OLEAN, N.Y. — In case you missed it, the Cattaraugus County Legislature voted in September to raise the age to buy tobacco from 18 to 21, which goes into effect Tuesday.

The Cattaraugus County Health Department, charged with enforcing the new law, has been busy in the past month educating 56 licensed tobacco retailers in the county about it.

Dr. Kevin Watkins, the public health director, said Health Department employees have offered several classes for merchants unfamiliar with the change.

They also explained to the retailers why the County Legislature voted to raise the age to legally buy tobacco products as well as e-cigarettes, and “why we need to go forward,” Watkins said.

The last class was held Wednesday at The Pines Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center in Machias for retail outlets in the northern part of the county, he said.

All tobacco retail outlets as well as those selling only e-cigarette products have been mailed packets of information, including frequently asked questions about the new local law and why it was passed.

The merchants also received a poster to make customers aware of the change and to replace old signs that list 18 as the legal age to buy cigarettes.

“We’re getting ready to continue to educate the public,” Watkins said. “Tuesday is the big day. We’re making sure everything is in place.”

Watkins said this is another step in helping to prevent local teenagers from smoking, as they are most likely to become addicted to nicotine.

“If we save just one life it will be worth it,” he said.

But Watkins and the county Board of Health have bigger plans. Now, more than 28 percent of adults in the county are smokers, he points out. Many of those smokers will develop serious health issues in future years, which are the leading causes of premature deaths.

By increasing the age to buy tobacco products to 21, Watkins believes fewer younger teenagers will be able to get cigarettes from their older friends. Many of those ages 18 to 20 without transportation will find it harder to get cigarettes and may quit as well.

Others in the 18- to 20-year age range will find other ways to buy their cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and e-cigarette products in neighboring counties or at smoke shops on the Seneca territories, Watkins acknowledged.

The fact is, he said, young people will “be less likely to be able to get cigarettes” under the Tobacco 21 law.

“Our county legislators did a services to county residents by passing this law,” he added.

The county will see benefits — both financially and health-wise, Watkins explained. Its future benefits will hopefully be measured by fewer serious illnesses like heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes and premature deaths.

In the near future, Watkins said he hopes to meet with Seneca Nation officials to have a dialogue over youth smoking and looking for ways to reduce the number of adult smokers as well.

Many Seneca smoke shops — including those operated by the Seneca Nation — have signs now that say they don’t sell tobacco products to those under age 18.

Watkins said the Health Department has services available to those who will decide to quit smoking after the local law takes effect Tuesday.

“We can offer the opportunity for nicotine patches and counseling to help people stop smoking,” Watkins said. People can also go to their primary care physician for a prescription for a smoking cessation product, he said.

“It’s a tough habit to break, no question,” Watkins said. “We are going to use whatever tools are necessary to help people through this tough patch.”

Cattaraugus County will become the sixth county in New York state to increase the age to buy tobacco to age 21. New York City has the same age requirement to buy tobacco products.

“This legislation will really do wonders for the county,” Watkins said. “It will decrease the number of individuals who start smoking at an early age.”

Watkins said the experience in other areas where the age to purchase tobacco products has increased to 21 shows that it will prevent many teens from starting at an earlier age.

Chautauqua County raised the age to buy tobacco products to 21 effective Oct. 1.

Watkins said the Health Department is the enforcement agency for the new Tobacco 21 law.

“We’ll send out sanitarians to look for merchants not abiding by the local law,” Watkins said.

The penalties for violating the local law are $300 and up, he said. The fines for repeat violations can go as high as $1,500.