New York is once again considering whether to join four other states in raising the legal age to buy tobacco to 19, the Associated Press reported May 13.

Alabama, Utah, Alaska, and New Jersey already set 19 as the legal tobacco-buying age. New York bill sponsor Assemblywoman Sandy Galef says the "Tobacco 19" legislation would cut youth access to cigarettes by cutting "social sources" of cigarettes.

Suffolk and Nassau counties on Long Island already have adopted Tobacco 19 legislation, which is backed by the American Cancer Society and American Heart Association.