Cigarettes and Kids, can’t be Friends
A recent study found that more children light up in Brooklyn than in any other part of New York City. Almost a third of all the city’s teen tobacco users live in this region.
More teens in Brooklyn use tobacco than in any town, according to a federal lawmaker promoting legislation he hopes will help young lungs control the harmful habit.
Anti-tobacco researchers reported that nearly a third of all teen tobacco users are located in Brooklyn, which has 25,000 teen smokers and 7,300 users of smokeless tobacco. But in New York State, 13.8% of high school students smoke cigarettes and 8% use smokeless tobacco.
In general Brooklyn’s teen smoking numbers represent astonishing 33 percent of teen smokers citywide.
In order to solve this main problem, Sen. Charles Schumer declare that he will approve a legislation that will prevent cigarette companies from aiming minors smokers with ads and products.
He added: “With thousands of children in Brooklyn addicted to cigarettes and tobacco companies coming up with new, creative ways to target even more children, the time to act is now. Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States and we must find ways to end dangerous tobacco company practices that target our children. We might not stop all of Brooklyn’s children from smoking, but this is surely a step in the right direction.”
The new bill will give the Food and Drug Administration power to regulate tobacco, additives putted in cigarettes, and tobacco advertising.
The new legislation will a lot of bans, such as: all outdoor tobacco advertising within 1,000 feet of schools and playgrounds, ban of all remaining tobacco brand sponsorships of sports and entertainment events, and a ban free giveaway of any non tobacco items with the purchase of a tobacco product or in exchange for coupons or proof of purchase.
Research indicated also that tobacco companies often target minors of high school age and younger because they are the most easily affected.
Schumer said that although the legislation will not prevent people from smoking or place any new taxes on cigarettes, it will ensure that claims Tobacco Companies make about their product are true and will prevent advertising and tobacco products targeted at minors.
And not only Schumer think so but also all smokers and non-smokers think that one of the problems is that even if will be enforced sales-to-minors restrictions, it will not take many who are breaking the rules to provide an outlet to all kids.
