What's happening
This bill prohibits the sale of dry ice to individuals under 18 in New York and requires age verification.
Why it matters
Targets a specific safety risk. Dry ice can cause severe burns, suffocation hazards, or even be misused for dangerous activities (like homemade explosives); restricting sales to minors aims to reduce such accidents and misuse.
Requires businesses to actively verify age. Sellers must check identification unless the buyer clearly appears to be 25 or older—placing a new compliance burden on grocers, convenience stores, and other retailers that offer dry ice.
Civil penalties for violations. Businesses face fines up to $500 per incident, creating a financial incentive to strictly enforce the age restriction and avoid accidental or negligent sales to underage buyers.
Reflects a broader trend of regulating hazardous materials. This law would join other age-based restrictions (like those on tobacco and solvents) and signals increased legislative attention to the accessibility of potentially dangerous substances.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Ban Dry Ice Sales to Minors
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
No co-sponsors yet.
History
- Referred to consumer protection
- Referred to consumer protection
Companion bill
The same bill in the other chamber. A bill becomes law when one version passes both houses and the governor signs it, so either number can carry it.
No Dry Ice for Minors
In Assembly Committee · Consumer Affairs And Protection · Sponsor Alicia Hyndman
Full text
1 pageUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4559
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
March 14, 2019
Introduced by Sen. PARKER -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Consumer Protection
AN ACT to amend the general business law, in relation to prohibiting the sale of dry ice to individuals under eighteen years of age
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The general business law is amended by adding a new section 399-hh to read as follows:
§ 399-hh. Prohibits the sale of dry ice to individuals under eighteen years of age. 1. No person, corporation, partnership or limited liability company shall knowingly sell or offer for sale dry ice to an individual under eighteen years of age.
2. Any person, corporation, partnership or limited liability company selling or offering for sale dry ice shall require proof of legal age prior to allowing an individual to purchase dry ice. Such identification need not be required of any individual who reasonably appears to be at least twenty-five years of age, provided, however, that such appearance shall not constitute a defense in any proceeding alleging the sale of dry ice to an individual under eighteen years of age.
3. Any person, corporation, partnership or limited liability company which violates the provisions of this section shall be subject to a civil penalty of not more than five hundred dollars per violation.
§ 2. This act shall take effect on the sixtieth day after it shall have become a law.
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD06250-01-9
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the general business law, in relation to prohibiting the sale of dry ice to individuals under eighteen years of age
Purpose
This legislation would help prevent under aged undetectable alcohol intoxication absent consumption with the use of dry ice.
Summary of provisions
Section 1:
a. Adding § 399-hh to the general business law to prohibit any person or business entity to sell dry ice to any person under the age of 21.
b. To provide for punishments for the violation(s) for the above.
Section 2: Sets forth the effective date.
Justification
Today, there is a trending phenomenon with dry ice, it is smoking alco- hol or "vaping". This is alcohol being heated then poured onto dry ice allowing for the alcohol vapors to be inhaled and getting into the blood stream almost, instantly. The yielding effect is alcohol goes straight to the brain.
There are several health threats such as damage to the nasal passages and lungs; enabling a person to achieve fatal alcohol poisoning more rapidly and without warning; and death.Since the alcohol reaches the brain faster, intoxication isn't felt as quickly, and does not allow for the liver to detoxify the alcohol as it does when consumed with drink- ing. Vaping' misleads a person to feel sober when they are not and their body neurologically becomes impaired the same as when alcohol is drank.
Alcohol abuse is a public health crisis; especially among under aged drinkers. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, alcohol is the most commonly used drug among youth (2007). Under aged drinking cost New York State over $3.1 billion in 2013(Pacific Research Institute); an increase from $2.3 billion in 2005. Those who drink under the legal age are more likely to become heavy drinkers.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol and Alcohol Abuse (NIAAA), 5000 people annually under the age of 21 die.due to alcohol; with 1900 of these in motor vehicle crashes.
With this new phenomenon of consuming alcohol being viewed as fun and trendy while coupled with the misconception of not gettroZpeing able to get drunk when smoked, the issues from the dangers of 17451h4 are sure to increase. This is sure to compound all other dangers and issues of under aged drinking. Ages 12-20 are reported to have consumed 11% of all alcohol consumed in the United States for 2015 (NIAAA).
This may be viewed as a drastic measure for a commonly used item used for simplistic purposes, however, this is similar to implementing legis- lature signed requiring a person to be at least 18 years of age with proper identification to purchase household items such as certain glues and spray paints; as well as common over-the-counter medications. Smok- ing alcohol with the use of dry ice is something that must be proactive- ly addressed for the safety of the public, especially those under the legal age of drinking.
Legislative history
2017-18: S8098A - Referred to Consumer Protection
Fiscal implications
None.
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.