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September 10, 2024 St. Anthony Council Work Session - 3 <br />Hold retailers accountable for responsible sales <br />Verification of age for those under 30 <br />Signage posted at the point-of-sale. <br />A chart showing the MN Statute Updates: Penalties was displayed. <br />Other Best Practice: Policy options to address Appeal, Access, & Affordability: <br />Ending the sale of flavored commercial tobacco products <br />Limiting the number of licensed tobacco retailers <br />Price discounting: minimum pack prices and prohibiting the redemption of coupons <br />Increased penalties for ordinance violations. <br />Ending the Sale of Flavored Commercial Tobacco Products will save lives. Estimating saving 650,000 <br />deaths over time including 255,000 in the Black community. Restricting the number of tobacco licenses <br />allowed in a community is a way to decrease commercial tobacco in a community. Research shows that <br />the location and density of commercial tobacco-related product retailers influences tobacco-related <br />product use and worsens health disparities. <br />Suggestions for capping tobacco licenses in St. Anthony Village. <br />1.Cap based on population density 5 licensed retailers vs. 9,970 residents equal to 1 licensed <br />retailer for every 1,994 residents. <br />2.Cap based at current licenses and reduce number over time, as licenses are revoked or expired <br />and are not renewed. <br />3.Cap at Zero through attrition – no new licenses. <br />A chart showing what other cities have done was presented. Among Minnesota smokers, about 50% <br />have used coupons or promotions in the past year to save money on cigarettes. Coupons foster nicotine <br />addiction in young smokers and keep heavy smokers addicted. Minnesota adult smokers who redeemed <br />cigarette coupons were much less likely to quit smoking than those who didn’t use coupons. <br />Why address commercial tobacco locally? <br />In Minnesota cities lead, the State follows: T21, Clean Indoor Air. <br />Why flavors? The vast majority of the tobacco products youth are using are flavored; nearly 80 <br />percent of youth who ever tried tobacco started with a flavored tobacco product. And 95% of <br />tobacco users start before they are 21. Prevention is key. <br />Of Minnesota adults who smoke menthol, about half said they would quit smoking if menthol <br />cigarettes were no longer sold in the United States. <br />Why Capping? Research shows that the location and density of commercial tobacco-related <br />product retailers influence tobacco-related product use and worsens health disparities. <br />Why Price Discounting? This comprehensive tobacco ordinance will make commercial tobacco <br />products less accessible and appealing to young people and will protect youth, Black, <br />Indigenous, LGBTQIA+ and other residents from industry targeting. <br />Why increased penalties? State minimum fines were increased in 2020. Selling tobacco is a <br />privilege and we must hold retailers accountable. <br />Councilmember Randle stated he has the same concerns. We cannot tell people over 21 years of age <br />that they cannot smoke. If adults want to use flavored tobacco they should be able to. Adults have their <br />own minds and we do not have the right to tell them what they can and can’t do including Black people.