BOSTON — Lawmakers on Beacon Hill are set to vote Wednesday on a bill which would increase the legal smoking age in the state of Massachusetts from 18 to 21.
The Senate already backs the bill, and a majority of House members are also in favor. That paves the way for the bill to reach Gov. Charlie Baker's desk.
For many, especially health care professionals, it's the smartest choice.
"It's the most common cause of preventable death in America and it seems like just an obvious thing to work on," said Dr. Lester Hartman.
A map from tobacco21.org shows all the cities and towns in green that have passed local laws raising the smoking age from 18 to 21.
However, for many business owners, like Fadi El Massih, increasing the smoking age in Millbury hurts his business, Riverside Mart.
About 60 percent of Fadi's business comes from selling tobacco products, many of his customers ranging from ages 18 to 21. Despite it compromising a big part of his business, Fadi says he actually supports the age change.
"It's the biggest part [of his business] actually, selling cigarettes," said Fadi. "I have kids and I wouldn't want them to smoke, business-wise it's not good but overall it's better for us."
Kids who smoke, on the other hand, aren't very keen on the idea.
Like it or not, studies show the later kids are introduced to smoking, the less chance they have of acquiring the habit.
The group tobaccofreekids.org says stopping teens from ages 18 to 20 from smoking significantly decreases the chances of them even starting.
Dr. Lester Hartman agrees, saying "you gotta make it 21 so that it will reduce the number of kids early on from smoking."
If the bill passes and Baker gives his signature, the new smoking age would take place July 1.
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