Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell today introduced his promised bill to raise to 21 from 18 the legal age to buy tobacco products in the United States, in response to the epidemic of electronic-cigarette use by teenagers. His co-sponsor is Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va.
"As senators from two states with a long history of tobacco production and consumption, Sen. McConnell and Sen. Kaine have seen this phenomenon firsthand, and heard the compelling stories from concerned constituents throughout their states," said a short explanation of the bill and the reasons for it.
Federal law does not establish a penalty for violating the current age limit of 18, but leaves enforcement up to the states and makes certain federal grants dependent upon enforcement. The McConnell-Kaine bill would leave that system in place, an idea opposed by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
Laws in Kentucky and many other states have penalties for under-agre youth who buy, possess or use tobacco products. Advocates will have to work with state legislators to remove those laws, said Bonnie Hackbarth, vice president for communications at the Foundation for a Health Kentucky.
The foundation endorsed McConnell's bill. “Since Sen. McConnell stood in our offices just last month and announced plans to file this bill, new data has come out showing that youth e-cigarette use in Kentucky doubled over the past two years,” foundation president and CEO Ben Chandler said. “We’re gratified that the provisions we sought to help reduce this explosion in youth vaping and other tobacco use have been included in the bill: it covers all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes as well as heated products; it prohibits sales to everyone under age 21, with no military exemption; it puts responsibility for compliance where it should be – on retailers, and it preserves the right of states to enact stricter laws.”
Chandler added, “We urge Congress to pass this bipartisan bill quickly and states to begin getting their own T21 bills in order. Every extra day it takes to put this important legislation into effect is an opportunity for thousands more kids to access a tobacco product that can damage their developing brains now and cause debilitating health issues throughout their lives.”
A bill to raise the legal age to buy tobacco products in Kentucky failed in the last session of the legislature, after opponents said it would hurt the tobacco industry. The bill, and similar legislation passed in Virginia and other states, is backed by Altria Group, the nation's largest cigarette manufacturer. Altria recently bought 35 per cent of Juul Labs, maker of the most popular e-cigarette.
"As senators from two states with a long history of tobacco production and consumption, Sen. McConnell and Sen. Kaine have seen this phenomenon firsthand, and heard the compelling stories from concerned constituents throughout their states," said a short explanation of the bill and the reasons for it.
Federal law does not establish a penalty for violating the current age limit of 18, but leaves enforcement up to the states and makes certain federal grants dependent upon enforcement. The McConnell-Kaine bill would leave that system in place, an idea opposed by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.
Laws in Kentucky and many other states have penalties for under-agre youth who buy, possess or use tobacco products. Advocates will have to work with state legislators to remove those laws, said Bonnie Hackbarth, vice president for communications at the Foundation for a Health Kentucky.
The foundation endorsed McConnell's bill. “Since Sen. McConnell stood in our offices just last month and announced plans to file this bill, new data has come out showing that youth e-cigarette use in Kentucky doubled over the past two years,” foundation president and CEO Ben Chandler said. “We’re gratified that the provisions we sought to help reduce this explosion in youth vaping and other tobacco use have been included in the bill: it covers all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes as well as heated products; it prohibits sales to everyone under age 21, with no military exemption; it puts responsibility for compliance where it should be – on retailers, and it preserves the right of states to enact stricter laws.”
Chandler added, “We urge Congress to pass this bipartisan bill quickly and states to begin getting their own T21 bills in order. Every extra day it takes to put this important legislation into effect is an opportunity for thousands more kids to access a tobacco product that can damage their developing brains now and cause debilitating health issues throughout their lives.”
A bill to raise the legal age to buy tobacco products in Kentucky failed in the last session of the legislature, after opponents said it would hurt the tobacco industry. The bill, and similar legislation passed in Virginia and other states, is backed by Altria Group, the nation's largest cigarette manufacturer. Altria recently bought 35 per cent of Juul Labs, maker of the most popular e-cigarette.
from Kentucky Health News http://bit.ly/2Qm9sOd
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