On Aug. 25, No Smoke 19, a new community health advocacy group aimed at getting Nassau County to raise the legal age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 19, held its first open public forum. East Meadow resident Pat Maher, founder of No Smoke 19 and the Democratic candidate for Nassau County Legislative District 13, was disappointed in the recent votes to table the legislation, and acted as moderator of the forum to discuss strategy. Currently, the Nassau County Legislature Health Committee needs one more 'yes' vote to bring this before the county legislature.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 90 percent of adult smokers began smoking before age 18. No Smoke 19 contends that the intent of the law is to try to prevent 18-year-olds from purchasing tobacco for their younger siblings and friends, which is happening and means children as young as 13 are able to get cigarettes.

However, other citizens feel it infringes on the "rights" of the 18-year-olds as they have the right to vote and can fight in a war, but yet wouldn't be able to buy tobacco products.

On June 20 and July 11, the health committee voted 4-3 to table a Tobacco 19 legislation keeping the current Nassau County law at age 18. In January of this year, the Suffolk County legislature, in a non-partisan move, unanimously passed legislation 18 to 0, raising the tobacco age to 19. The law has been in effect since May 2005.

"We don't understand why the bill was voted down twice in Nassau," said Maher who is also running this November against Republican incumbent Norma Gonsalves for the 13th L.D. seat. "I urged my legislator, Norma Gonsalves and all of the legislators to vote for Tobacco 19 and it was tabled. There were three other legislators; [Francis] Becker, [Vincent] Muscarella and [Lisanne] Altmann who voted no, as well," said Maher.

According to Gonsalves, "The health and safety of our children is of utmost importance to me. Legislation, which would ensure this goal, must be consistent with proposed state law to be effective. Therefore, tabling the legislation would give us the time needed to ensure this goal."

Among those who served on the panel for the Aug. 25 forum, which took place at the East Meadow Public Library, William Stoner, regional advocacy director of the American Cancer Society; Kathleen Dooney of the Nurses Association of the Counties of Long Island District 14; and Anne Ruvolo, president of Merrick Avenue Middle School PTA. At the meeting, Stoner mentioned how Rockland County has voted in Tobacco 19 as have three other states - Alabama, Alaska and Utah. It is too soon, however, for evidence of efficacy.

"Suffolk County has a law increasing the tobacco purchase age to 19. Since the law took effect, there has been a 20 percent increase in vendor compliance, improving on an established model compliance rate for the state" said Stoner.

Those who attended the forum spoke both in support and opposition of the Tobacco 19 Law.

"As a parent in today's day and age we have addressed so many safety issues: infants sleeping on their back, safe car seats, etc. Why is pushing the Tobacco law to 19 not considered an important issue of safety?"

An audience member reiterated the opposing side's issue with changing the law to 19, asking why they say it infringes on the "rights" of 18-year-olds.

Stoner disagreed, stating that a "recent poll of 500 Nassau residents shows that 74 percent of respondents support increasing the tobacco purchase age to 19, so clearly the idea that smoking at 18 as a right is clearly in the minority. It is a privilege and not a right."

Maher added, "As a resident of East Meadow I spoke on behalf of No Smoke 19 on July 11 before the Legislative Health Committee and again on July 25 before a full meeting of the Nassau County Legislature," said Maher, adding, "The Conservative Party statewide has spoken out against the passage of Tobacco 19. I question the credibility and reasoning of a no-vote against Tobacco 19. The health of children should be put before politics."

As a result, Maher said the next step is to "go as a group to speak before the Nassau County Legislature and collect petitions to see this bill passed in Nassau County. We are going to work with the Chairman of the Nassau County Legislative Health Committee Jeff Toback, William Stoner and Kathleen Dooney to see this bill passed."

For further information on No Smoke 19, contact Maher at 409-8213 or e-mail pmaher5657@aol.com. Information is also available at www.tobaccofreekids.org.