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<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />September 18, 2019 <br /> <br />Dear Mayor Faust and members of the Saint Anthony Village City Council: <br /> <br />I am writing on behalf of the American Heart Association to express our support for the <br />proposed ordinance that would raise the minimum sales age for tobacco products from 18 to 21 <br />in Saint Anthony Village, as well as a flavor restriction including menthol. <br /> <br />The National Academy of Medicine reports that there would be a 25 percent reduction in <br />smoking initiation among 15-to-17-year-olds if the age to purchase tobacco was raised to 21. <br />Preventing youth from starting to smoke is essential to reducing smoking prevalence, <br />considering that almost 95 percent of addicted adult smokers started before age 21. Increasing <br />the age gap between kids and those who can legally buy tobacco will help remove access to <br />tobacco products from the high-school environment and stop the start. <br />Thinking further beyond Tobacco 21 would be restricting flavors to adult only shops in Saint <br />Anthony Village. Menthol and flavored tobacco products are peddled to our nation’s youth with <br />the intent of addicting a new generation. These products lures young people into a deadly habit <br />and sets them on the road to early hardening of the arteries and coronary artery disease in <br />adulthood. <br />Over 40 communities in Minnesota have also raised the minimum age to purchase tobacco from <br />18 to 21 and many cities statewide are considering adopting this policy. We need to continue to <br />do everything we can to protect the health of our young people. Saint Anthony Village has the <br />opportunity to help prevent another generation from becoming lifelong tobacco users. Thank <br />you for your consideration. <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Jess Nolan <br />Community Advocacy Director <br />952-278-7928 <br />Jess.Nolan@heart.org <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />84