NYC To Raise Tobacco Purchasing Age To 21

New Yorkers under the age of 21 will soon have to go outside the city if they want to buy cigarettes and other tobacco products.

The city council voted unanimously to raise the buying age for tobacco products from 18 to 21 — the strictest limit of any major American city.

The city council also voted to increase the minimum cost of a pack of cigarettes to $10.50.

Cigarette manufacturers say this could lead to an increase in the cigarette black market.