HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 03-08-1993 - IV-D 1
ORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
Action Agenda
Item No. XV-D
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: March 8, 1993
SUBJECT: A Resolution to limit Youth Access to Tobacco in North Carolina
DEPARTMENT: HEALTH PUBLIC HEARING: Yes X No
ATTACHMENT(S) : 1. Resolution INFORMATION CONTACT:
HEALTH DIRECTOR'S OFFICE X2411
TELEPHONE NUMBER:
Hillsborough - 732-8181
Chapel Hill - 968-4501
Mebane - 227-2031
Durham - 688-7331
PURPOSE:
To consider a resolution urging the General Assembly to remove a loop hole
from the existing state law that prohibits the sale of tobacco products to
minors.
BACKGROUND:
In the last session of the North Carolina General Assembly the legislature
raised the age for the sale of tobacco products from 17 to 18. However,
at the same time, the word "knowingly" was added to the law, therefore
making the bill ineffective. On the 24th of April, 1992, a district
court judge found a store clerk innocent of selling cigarettes to a
14 year old in Wilmington, North Carolina.
Therefore, the New Hanover County Commissioners and county Board of Health
are spear heading an effort to get the word "knowingly" out of the present
law, plus add a requirement that merchants must check the age of young
people through identification prior to the sale of tobacco products.
The Board of Health adopted this resolution at its meeting of January 28,
1993 and passed a motion asking the Health Director to submit it to the
Board of Commissioners for adoption.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Administration recommends that the Board of
Commissioners adopt the attached Resolution as requested by
the Board of Health.
2
RESOLUTION
YOUTH ACCESS TO TOBACCO IN NORTH CAROLINA
WHEREAS, tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of death; and
WHEREAS, over one million teenagers start smoking each year, and minors
buy about one billion packs of cigarettes each year; and
WHEREAS, most smokers start at about age 13-14 and 90% start smoking
before the age of 20; and
WHEREAS, the earlier a young person starts to use tobacco, the less
likely it is that he/she will be able to quit later (JAMA) and
subsequently will die of a tobacco induced disease; and
WHEREAS, in locations where tobacco sales to underage persons have been
curtailed, the prevalence of smoking by teenagers has decreased,
particularly among the youngest age groups; and
WHEREAS, the Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration
(ADAMHA) Reorganization Act Synar Amendment mandates adoption and
enforcement of laws prohibiting sale or distribution of tobacco products
to those younger than 18 years of age by October 1, 1993; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina may lose significant federal funding for mental
health drug and alcohol abuse if it does not show that they are enforcing
their minimum age law "in a manner that can reasonably be expected to
reduce the extent to which tobacco products are available to individuals
under the age of 18" ; and
WHEREAS, a District Court judge found a store clerk innocent of selling
cigarettes to a 14 year old on April 24, 1992 in Wilmington, North
Carolina.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Orange County Board of Commissioners
requests the North Carolina General Assembly to change North Carolina Law
to effectively prohibit the sale of tobacco products to persons under 18 .
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED, that the word "knowingly" be removed from the
present state law concerning selling cigarettes to minors.
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED, that language be included in the law which states:
"No retailer shall sell or permit to be sold cigarettes or other tobacco
products to an individual without requesting and examining identification
establishing the purchaser's age as 18 years or greater unless the seller
has some other conclusive basis for determining the buyer's age. "
Adopted this 8th day of March, 1993
Attest
Moses Carey, Jr. , Chair
„5/egg
n
RESOLUTION
YOUTH ACCESS TO TOBACCO IN NORTH CAROLINA
WHEREAS, tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of death; and
WHEREAS, over one million teenagers start smoking each year, and minors
buy about one billion packs of cigarettes each year; and
WHEREAS, most smokers start at about age 13-14 and 90% start smoking
before the age of 20; and
WHEREAS, the earlier a young person starts to use tobacco, the less
likely it is that he/she will be able to quit later (JAMA) and
subsequently will die of a tobacco induced disease; and
WHEREAS, in locations where tobacco sales to underage persons have been
curtailed, the prevalence of smoking by teenagers has decreased,
particularly among the youngest age groups; and
WHEREAS, the Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration
(ADAMHA) Reorganization Act Synar Amendment mandates adoption and
enforcement of laws prohibiting sale or distribution of tobacco products
to those younger than 18 years of age by October 1, 1993; and
WHEREAS, North Carolina may lose significant federal funding for mental
health drug and alcohol abuse if it does not show that they are enforcing
their minimum age law "in a manner that can reasonably be expected to
reduce the extent to which tobacco products are available to individuals
under the age of 18" ; and
WHEREAS, a District Court judge found a store clerk innocent of selling
cigarettes to a 14 year old on April 24, 1992 in Wilmington, North
Carolina.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Orange County Board of Commissioners
requests the North Carolina General Assembly to change North Carolina Law
to effectively prohibit the sale of tobacco products to persons under 18.
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED, that the word "knowingly" be removed from the
present state law concerning selling cigarettes to minors.
BE IT ALSO RESOLVED, that language be included in the law which states:
"No retailer shall sell or permit to be sold cigarettes or other tobacco
products to an individual without requesting and examining identification
establishing the purchaser's age as 18 years or greater unless the seller
has some other conclusive basis for determining the buyer's age. ”
Adopted this 8th day of March, 1993
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Attest�j � Li[
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