By Matt Friedman and Susan K. Livio/The Star-Ledger

TRENTON — New Jersey would be one of the first states in the nation to raise the minimum age for buying cigarettes and other tobacco products to 21 under a measure announced today by state Sen. Richard Codey.

"I think we have to send a message to our young adults: To smoke is no joke," Codey (D-Essex County) said while unveiling the proposal with New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, a candidate for mayor whose push for a limit in the city prompted lawmakers in Albany to propose it for all of New York State.

"This has now truly become a regional, if not national, effort," Quinn said during a news conference at New York City Hall.

Codey — who as governor in 2006 signed legislation increasing the age of people to whom it was legal to sell tobacco products from 18 to 19 — said he knows the idea would not stop all kids from getting cigarettes, but said it could cut down on the number of young people who start smoking.

"In the long run, this will prevent young adults from starting at a younger age," Codey said.

It is not illegal in New Jersey for those under 19 to possess tobacco or attempt to buy it, only for stores to sell it to them. Stores caught selling to kids face fines of $250 to $1,000 and can have their license to sell tobacco suspended or revoked.

In most states, the purchase age for tobacco is 18. New Jersey, Alaska, Alabama, Utah and a few New York counties have set it at 19. A bill to raise it to 21 is pending in the Texas Legislature. Only two towns in Massachusetts have set it at that age.

Fred Jacobs, chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society’s division for New York and New Jersey, said getting a bill raising the age to 21 passed would likely be "a heavy lift" but worth the fight. Jacobs, who was health commissioner when Codey was governor, said raising the age to 19 was an easier sell because the public supports keeping cigarettes away from high school students.

"My view is anything that can discourage young people from starting is a good thing," said Jacobs.

Sal Risalvato, executive director of the New Jersey Gasoline-Convenience-Automotive Association, called the idea "dumb," saying it would do little to curb teen smoking while burdening gas station and convenience store operators.

"The Legislature should let parents steer their children away from cigarettes. The laws are not going to do it," Risalvato said. "This is going to make it more difficult for small-business owners to check IDs, and these kids are going to figure out a way around it. They may use false IDs or (ask) someone else to buy their cigarettes."

Risavalto said the bill would also drive some to buy their smokes online or across the state lines, depriving New Jersey of revenue.

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David Sutton, a spokesman for Altria, parent company for Philip Morris USA, agreed. "Imposing a restriction like this on adult consumers of a legal product ... will likely push sales away from law-abiding retailers to illegal smugglers who care little" about the age of their customers, he said in an e-mail. Altria vigorously supports minimum age laws, Sutton, added. "We were original supporters of the ‘We Card’ retail program and continue to encourage retailers to train their employees on effective age-verification practices."

According to the state Health Department’s 2010 survey of 2,600 high school students, 14.3 percent described themselves as "current users of cigarettes." The survey found 67 percent of students under age 18 who bought their own tobacco products said they were not asked for identification to prove they were 19.

Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-Gloucester) will "gladly review the bill" and supports efforts "that would prevent people, especially young people, from smoking," said spokesman Chris Donnelly.

Spokesmen for Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex) and Gov. Chris Christie did not respond to requests for comment.

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