06-26-1996 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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June 17, 1996 PK:7/.71-Z] IPA IS Association for Nonsmokers - Minnesota 2395 University Avenue West Suite 310 Saint Paul, Minnesota 55114 -1512 (612) 646 -3005 FAX: (612) 646 -0142 Administrator Joel Hanson City Hall 515 Little Canada Road Little Canada, Minnesota 55117 High school seniors under 18 can't legally smoke. Yet their smoking rate is higher than among Minnesota adults. Even more upsetting is that only half of these teen smokers will ever quit, and of those who don't, half will die prematurely of smoking related diseases. 19% of Minnesota 9th graders (14 & 15 year olds) use tobacco weekly. 29% of Minnesota 12th graders use tobacco weekly. This is a pediatric catastrophe and a public health nightmare. We will pay the social and financial costs of these young smokers for the next 50 years. There is no one easy answer, but cities throughout the state are working to find solutions. In most Minnesota schools there are educational programs designed to prevent children from beginning to smoke. Even those who develop these programs admit that education alone has gone just about as far as it can. Schools have only a few of the answers, and the student survey demonstrates that the other things we have been doing are inadequate. Other solutions are needed. Top of the list must be enforcement of tobacco age -of -sale laws. Recent surveys where laws are not regularly enforced have found illegal rates of sale from 35 to 100 %. In Ramsey County communities which conduct regular compliance checks and fines are imposed for illegal sales, the rates are about 10 %. But enforcing existing laws is not all that cities can do. Other options include requiring that all tobacco be behind the counter as a customer assisted item and elimination of tobacco vending machines. New technology including check out scanners and antitheft technology can be harnessed to reduce teen access. Advertising restrictions are also an option, albeit a controversial one. Would you consider taking a leadership role in your community to address this problem? For change to happen, someone must step up to the plate. If you are willing to be that person, we would like to help. We can provide technical support, information and encouragement. I am materials you may find helpful. If you would like any additional information, please a call. I hope we cap work together to make a difference. Jean'e Weigum Cxnn,EO MEMBER Page 143