Rite Aid to Raise Age to Purchase Tobacco Products

One pharmacy is taking the steps to raise the age to purchase tobacco.

Since the beginning of this year, New York State has been laying the foundation of changing the legal age to purchase cigarettes from 18 to 21.

Some 20 counties in New York have already raised the age of purchasing cigarettes from 18 to 21, including Westchester, Rockland, and New York City. Along with increasing the purchasing age, Gov. Andrew Cuomo's office said in January that they were working on ending the sale of tobacco and electronic cigarette products in pharmacies.

Getty Images

According to ABC7 NY, Rite Aid is increasing the age to purchase tobacco products to 21. Chief Operating Officer of Rite Aid Corporation Bryan Everett says, "Raising the age for purchasing tobacco products is an important step in our efforts to ensure that these products do not fall into the hands of children and teens."

Rite Aid says the plan will go into place in 90 days.

In the past, Rite Aid has said they would be removing all vape and e-cigarette products, as well.

Listen to the Boris & Robyn Show weekday mornings from 6AM to 10AM on 101.5 WPDH. Stream us live through the website, Alexa-enabled device, Google Home or the WPDH mobile app.