Reducing youth access to tobacco

Article Abstract:

Young people have little difficulty in buying cigarettes, in spite of laws in 46 states that limit access. The tobacco industry has issued stirring statements in support of compliance with these laws: nonetheless, only 32 vendor violations were reported in 1989, while 1 billion packs of cigarettes were sold to minors. Results are discussed from several studies of cigarette-buying behavior on the part of young people under 18 years. Since October 1989, several cities in Minnesota enacted vending machine restrictions, some of which were total bans. Cities in other states have followed suit. However, most sales to teenage smokers are over-the-counter, and a study in the December 11, 1991 issue of The Journal of the American Medical Association shows that merchant education alone is not enough to stop illegal sales. A bill has been proposed by Secretary of Health and Human Services Louis Sullivan that would create a retail licensing system for tobacco. Some cities have adopted such schemes. Another study in the same Journal issue indicates that such an approach can be effective. In that study, penalties against merchants in one community who sold cigarettes to minors almost completely eliminated such sales. This was combined with a merchant education program concerning the tobacco access law. Another study revealed the lenient approach taken by judges toward the store clerks who sold cigarettes to minors; their approach to store owners or managers may have been different, however. It is more practical to entrust enforcement of these laws to health departments than to police officers. Litigation by customers against stores who sold them cigarettes as minors may also help control illegal sales. The effects of reducing children's access to tobacco are not known; some argue that tobacco access laws may actually encourage children to try to buy cigarettes. Research concerning many aspects of tobacco use by teenagers is needed. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Statistics, Smoking and youth, Youth smoking, Cigarettes

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The ledger of tobacco control: is the cup half empty or half full?

Article Abstract:

It is unlikely that the world will be smoke-free by the year 2000 but many advances have been made. The FDA has proposed regulating nicotine as a drug and cigarettes as a drug delivery device, a regulation announced by Pres Clinton. Internal tobacco industry documents that were leaked to the press are now available on the Internet. The documents reveal possible criminal activity by the industry that is being investigated by the Justice Dept. Several class-action lawsuits have been filed against the industry and several states are suing to recover the costs of treating the health effects of smoking. The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research has issued a Smoking Cessation Clinical Practice Guideline and OSHA is proposing nationwide smoking bans in workplaces. On the other hand, many legislators receive substantial amounts of money from the industry, and in 1995, ABC publicly apologized for an episode of Day One that criticized the industry. The industry also publishes information that distorts the economic impact of tobacco regulation.

Political activity, Tobacco industry, Tobacco

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Exposure to Environmental Tobacco Smoke: Identifying and Protecting Those At Risk

Article Abstract:

More effort is needed to ban smoking in indoor areas. Passive smoking has been linked to lung cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses. Anyone who lives or works with smokers is at risk of passive smoking. People who work in airplanes, casinos, restaurants, bars, bingo halls, and bowling alleys are most at risk. Studies have shown that educating people is not enough. OSHA has proposed a total ban on smoking in worksites except in separately ventilated areas. Until this regulation is finalized, individual lawsuits may be the best way to stop smoking in workplaces.

Prevention, Workplace smoking, Passive smoking

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