Residents of Onondaga County, N.Y., could be barred from purchasing tobacco products if they are younger than age 19 under a measure approved unanimously by the county health commission, the Syracuse Post-Standard reported Nov. 16.

If approved by the local legislature, the measure would raise the tobacco-purchase age in the county from 18 to 19. "It was one of the smoothest pieces of legislation I've ever been involved with down here," said county lawmaker Robert Warner, a primary cosponsor of the Onondaga Tobacco 19 bill.

The bill would prohibit retailers in the county from selling cigarettes, pipes, cigars, and other tobacco products to youths under age 19. Supporters said the law would prevent tobacco sales to high-school students, but opponents say there's no evidence of that.

New York's state tobacco purchase law is 18, but Nassau and Suffolk counties have already raised their purchase age to 19. New York City is considering raising its purchase age to 19 or 21. Alabama, Alaska, New Jersey and Utah all ban tobacco sales to youths under age 19.