SYRENE KOON
In an attempt to raise community awareness about the increase of tobacco use by local minors, a resolution passed by the Utah County Board of Health will introduce a series of federal tobacco laws to be implemented over the next year.
The resolution, which passed Dec. 3, was established by the Board of Health to encourage municipalities to enact and enforce local ordinances.
Suggestions include asking buyers for identification, urging retailers to place tobacco products behind the counter and encouraging change in legislation, said Ralph Clegg, deputy director of the Utah County Health Department.
A federal law that will establish a national minimum age requirement of 18 to buy tobacco products and require retailers to request photo identification for all buyers under 26 will go into affect on Feb. 28, 1997.
Additional laws will become effective Aug. 28, 1997. These laws will severely limit the tobacco industry and is a landmark in eliminating sales and use of tobacco for minors, said Christine Chalkley, manager of tobacco prevention and control program for the Utah Department of Health.
Vending machines will be banned, no billboard can be within 1000 feet of school property, all self-service displays are prohibited and will be clerk assisted only, there can be no free sampling and all advertisement has to be in black and white, Chalkley said. “These are the most comprehensive measures to reduce access, advertising, marketing and supply of tobacco products.
“All tobacco products will be required by law to be labelled a nicotine delivery system, so that it is recognized as an addictive drug,” Chalkley said.
“Eighty-percent of youth begin smoking by the age of 13, and 90 percent begin by the age of 19, Chalkley said. “Youth are the target market of the tobacco industry. Five percent of minors use chewing tobacco and 12.4 percent smoke cigarettes.”
Smoking rates of minors in Utah have increased 28 percent in the past five years, Chalkley said. Twenty-seven thousand youth, ages 12 to 17 report regular use of tobacco products.
“Youth use tobacco products because of pressure by the media and their peers and to reduce stress in their lives,” Chalkley said. “Many believe that tobacco causes a calming effect which is not true. It actually causes stress in the body.”
The challenge of the federal restriction laws will be the enforcement of these provisions, Chalkley said. Yet, federal involvement shows the social world is changing.
Jennifer Absher/Daily Universe
WELCOME TO MARLBORO COUNTRY:New federal tobacco laws to be enacted in February 1997, will limit how and where tobacco products are advertised. Further steps will outlaw the sale of tobacco products in vending machines such as this one
