|
|
WHEREAS, chemical dependency upon smoking nicotine is today our [city's, county's, or state's] leading cause of preventable death;
WHEREAS, the U.S. Surgeon General has determined that nicotine is as addictive as heroin or cocaine;
WHEREAS, each day nearly 4,400 young people between the ages of 12 and 17 years initiate nicotine smoking in the United States, and almost half become daily smokers;
WHEREAS, the National Cancer Institute asserts that smokeless tobacco is addictive, that the amount of nicotine absorbed is three times higher than from cigarettes, and that chewing tobacco and snuff contain up to 28 carcinogens;
WHEREAS, a 2005 study found that 87% of students who smoked daily were chemically dependent as measured by standards in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV);
WHEREAS, 80-90% of all adult smokers started smoking while children or teens;
WHEREAS, since 2000 the Canadian government has required random use of cigarette pack addiction warning labels which read, “Warning Cigarettes Are Highly Addictive - Studies have shown that tobacco can be harder to quit than heroin or cocaine;
WHEREAS, there are no U.S. addiction warnings required on any tobacco product;
WHEREAS, a significant percentage of youth begin exhibiting signs of loss of autonomy within smoking their first few cigarettes;
WHEREAS, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, teens who smoke nicotine are three times more likely than nonsmokers to use alcohol, eight times more likely to use marijuana, and 22 times more likely to use cocaine;
AND WHEREAS, the World Health Organization predicts that some 200-300 million children and adolescents currently alive will eventually be killed by tobacco products,
NOW THEREFORE, it is necessary to denormalize chemical dependency upon tobacco derived nicotine by placing distance between youth and businesses whose product displays and point of sale marketing encourage them to use tobacco, and to use the engines of government to warn youth of the extremely addictive nature of tobacco products. It is the objective of this [statute/ordinance] to substantially diminish tobacco use pressures which daily bombard young, immature and developing minds.
Section I.Tobacco Product Sales LocationsA. Tobacco products may not be sold or distributed at any business location allowing access by persons under eighteen years of age. Section I shall take effect one year from date of enactment.
1. Tobacco products may only be sold or distributed indoors at permanent fixed business locations. All retail tobacco product sales locations must have a door to control youth access.2. Each entrance to any tobacco product sales location shall conspicuously display a legible sign having a minimum size of 8 inches by 8 inches (8" x 8"). The sign shall read, “YOUTH WARNING - TOBACCO SALES LOCATION - DO NOT ENTER - Tobacco products are extremely addictive. Our law requires that you must be at least 18 years of age to enter this location. The penalty for violating this law is a fine of up to $500 dollars.”
B. Any tobacco product sales location violating any provision of this section shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $1,000 for a first violation, and not less than $500 nor more than $5,000 for any subsequent violation. The business license of any location found to have committed a flagrant or repeat violation shall be suspended for a minimum of one year but not more than five years.
C. All law enforcement, fire, zoning, public health officials, school principles and assistant principles, school nurses, and school guidance counselors are granted jurisdiction and authority to investigate, enforce and prosecute violations under this section. At least 50% of all fines recovered under this section shall be divided between investigating, enforcing and prosecuting authorities, with fines being used to expand enforcement of this section, or enforcement of any other state or local law intended to prevent youth tobacco use.
D. Any person under the age of eighteen years who enters a tobacco product sales location may be fined up to $500. The Court may suspend any fine subject to attendance and proof of successful completion of a nicotine dependency prevention or cessation program.
Section II.All Government Agencies/Departments to Assist in DenormalizationA. Nicotine dependency denormalization is the process of creating widespread community awareness that the primary reason that almost all adult daily tobacco users use tobacco is not for flavor, taste, to make new friends, to rebel, for pleasure, because of boredom, to look more adult, or for adventure, but because nicotine has desensitized their brain, they are now chemically dependent upon it, and will likely experience physical withdrawal if they attempt to quit. It is the process of protecting young minds from almost constant, yet preventable, tobacco use assault.
B. All government agencies and departments shall assist, when and where practical, cost effective and convenient, in helping denormalize nicotine dependency within the [city, county, state].
B. Without limitation, all agencies and departments are expressly authorized to use and convey any subject matter contained in the introduction to this [ordinance/statute] as part of any nicotine dependency denormalization campaign.
C. All agencies are expressly authorized to use [city, county, state] lands, buildings and vehicles to help convey their nicotine dependency denormalization message.
D. All public school libraries and public libraries shall remove all tobacco advertising from all magazines prior to making them available for reading, or make arrangements with publishers to use existing selective binding technology to receive magazines free of tobacco industry image or product marketing.
E. Fire, police and health departments are authorized to conduct nicotine dependency prevention and/or cessation programs, and to apply for grants and accept donations to fund programs.
Share this Proposed Law with Your Leaders & CommunityIt is the objective of the above draft ordinance/statute to denormalize nicotine dependency at the grassroots level by removing all tobacco products from neighborhood candy stores, convenience stores, gas stations, grocery stores, and pharmacies, to remove all tobacco magazine marketing from all public schools and libraries, and to enlist all government agencies in a battle to denormalize nicotine dependency.
Although permanently altering the dynamics associated with youth peer pressure is a massive hurdle, we can almost immediately alter the daily pressures felt upon all youth by abruptly ending all shotgun tobacco marketing that daily bombards their minds. If we can require hard liquor to be sold in stand-alone liquor stores then why not a substance that is up to nine times as addictive to the human population?
Consider e-mailing a copy of this proposed ordinance to your city or county council members. You should be able to quickly locate their e-mail addresses using Google. Suggest it as a proposed bill to your state legislative representatives or write a short letter to the editor suggesting that it's time to remove tobacco products from neighborhood candy stores. Any input on the above draft ordinance/statute would be greatly appreciated. Please forward comments, suggestions and criticisms to john@whyquit.com. Sincere thanks in advance.
John R. Polito
Editor WhyQuit.com
Last modified: May 29, 2008 7:05:58 AM
