NYC proposes age limit of 21 to buy cigarettes

NEW YORK -- A proposal by New York City's Health Commissioner would make it illegal for anyone under the age of 21 to buy cigarettes in the city, the New York Times reported.

According to the Times, the proposal, introduced by Health Commissioner Christine C. Quinn would give New York the highest smoking age in the country among major cities.

With the proposal, it would be legal for people under 21 to possess cigarettes, but they couldn't be bought in city stores. City Mayor Mike Bloomberg also recently proposed that tobacco sellers in the area keep tobacco products hidden so customers could not see them.

Currently, the smoking age is 19 in some states, including Alabama, Alaska, New Jersey and Utah, and some counties. A suburb of Boston has recently raised its smoking age to 21, the Times reported.