DOVER, Del. – Governor John Carney on Tuesday released the following statement on the vote in the Delaware Senate to pass Senate Bill 25, which would raise the sales age for tobacco products from 18 to 21:

“Preventing smoking is the best thing we can do to improve the health of our state, and reduce the growth of health care costs over time. We know that use of tobacco-related products is the leading cause of preventable death and disability in Delaware and across the country. Tobacco-related illnesses, such as lung cancer and heart disease, claim the lives of 1,400 Delawareans each year, and treatment of those illnesses costs Delaware families, businesses and the State more than $530 million annually. We expect this legislation will help curb the impact of smoking on Delaware families by preventing more young Delawareans from picking up this dangerous habit in the first place. Thank you to members of the Senate for passing this legislation, and to Senator Townsend for his leadership on this important issue.”

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