MINNEAPOLIS, Feb. 13, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Minnesotans
for a Smoke-Free Generation, a coalition of over 50 organizations
working to reduce youth tobacco use, applauded the Duluth City
Council for voting to protect youth from tobacco addiction. On
Monday, the Council passed an ordinance restricting the sale of
menthol-, fruit- and candy-flavored tobacco products to adult-only
tobacco stores.
Separately, Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation expressed
disappointment that the Mankato City Council missed an opportunity
to pass a life-saving measure to raise the minimum tobacco sale age
to 21. The proposal, which was supported by area parents, youth and
physicians, fell short yesterday in a three to four vote after a
public hearing.
Duluth
"We are grateful that the Duluth City Council took this historic
step to protect young people from flavored tobacco, ensuring a
healthier future," said Molly
Moilanen, Director of Public Affairs at ClearWay Minnesota,
and co-chair of the Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation
coalition. "Keeping menthol-, fruit- and candy- flavored tobacco
products away from our kids is another important step toward our
goal of building a generation of Minnesota youth free from tobacco
addiction."
The Duluth policy removes
flavored tobacco products from places youth frequent, like corner
stores and gas stations. Most youth start using tobacco with
flavored products. While flavors like menthol mask the harshness of
tobacco, these products are just as addictive and dangerous as
other tobacco products. Studies have found that menthol makes it
easier for youth to start smoking and harder for adults to quit.
Last year, Minneapolis and
St. Paul passed menthol tobacco
restrictions, some of the first in the country.
In Duluth, the final vote was
seven Council Members voting in favor, with two opposed. The policy
is set to implement in 120 days.
Mankato
"Communities across the state and country are taking action to
put their kids above Big Tobacco profits," Moilanen added. "The
vote by the Mankato City Council was deeply disappointing and a
disservice to local youth targeted every day by the tobacco
industry. We continue to stand by our young people, health experts
and elected officials in fighting to raise the tobacco age in
Mankato and Minnesota as a whole."
Raising the tobacco age, commonly referred to as Tobacco
21, prevents youth tobacco use and saves lives. The tobacco
industry aggressively markets to youth and young adults to recruit
replacement smokers and guarantee future profits. Nearly 95 percent
of addicted adult smokers start before age 21. There is broad
support for raising the tobacco age to 21 and, to date, five states
and 290 localities including five in Minnesota – Edina, St. Louis
Park, Bloomington,
Plymouth and, most recently,
North Mankato – have passed
Tobacco 21 policies.
The Mankato ordinance that was
considered differed from other Minnesota cities with Tobacco 21 policies
because it allowed penalties on youth and young adults for
possession, use or purchase. These penalties have not been proven
to reduce tobacco use. There is consensus from many national
organizations and Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation that
these penalties should not be included in Tobacco 21 policies.
About Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation
Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation supports policies
that reduce youth smoking and help end the death and disease
associated with tobacco use, including raising the tobacco age to
21, limiting youth access to menthol-, candy- and fruit- flavored
tobacco, keeping tobacco prices high and funding future tobacco
prevention and cessation efforts.
Partners include: A Healthier Southwest, African American
Leadership Forum, Allina Health March of Dimes, American
Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart
Association, Medica, American Lung Association in Minnesota, Apple Tree Dental, Association for
Nonsmokers – Minnesota,
Aurora/St. Anthony Neighborhood
Corporation, Becker County Energize, Blue Cross and Blue
Shield of Minnesota, CentraCare Health, Children's
Defense Fund-Minnesota, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of
Minnesota, ClearWay MinnesotaSM,
Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio –
CLUES, Dodge County Public Health, Essentia
Health, Gillette Children's Specialty
Healthcare, HealthEast, Perham Health,
HealthPartners, Hennepin County Medical Center, Hope
Dental Clinic, Horizon Public Health, Indigenous Peoples
Task Force, ISAIAH, LAAMPP Institute, Lake Region
Healthcare, Lincoln Park Children and Families
Collaborative, Local Public Health Association of Minnesota, Mayo Clinic, Minnesota Academy of
Family Physicians, Minnesota Cancer Alliance, Minnesota Council of
Health Plans, Minnesota Hospital Association, Minnesota Medical
Association, Minnesota Oral Health Coalition, Minnesota Public
Health Association, MN Association of Community Health Centers, MN
Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Model Cities of
St. Paul, Inc., NAMI Minnesota,
North Memorial Health Care, NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center,
PartnerSHIP 4 Health, Rainbow Health Initiative, SEIU Healthcare
Minnesota, St. Paul Area Chamber
of Commerce, Steele County Public Health, Tobacco Free Alliance,
Twin Cities Medical Society, UCare, Vision In Living Life "Change
is Possible" and WellShare International. Find out more at:
smokefreegenmn.org.
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SOURCE Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation