US: Hawaii Lawmakers Push Ban on Youth Smoking

Source from:  AP - Associated Press 02/08/2013

Hawaii lawmakers are pushing for tougher laws to curb tobacco use in the Aloha State, especially among children.
 
State Sen. Rosalyn Baker wants to prohibit tobacco use and possession for people under age 18. She also wants to impose a $3.20 excise tax per net ounce of tobacco.
 
It's already illegal to sell tobacco to minors in Hawaii, but the state has no laws prohibiting kids from having or using tobacco.
 
The health consequences of tobacco use place an incredible strain on the state budget, said Senate Health Committee Chairman Josh Green, who said he supports the initiatives.
 
"Taxpayer dollars are on the line," Green said. "People are paying higher taxes already because they're subsidizing other people's bad health decisions."
 
Decreasing the number of people who smoke will allow the state to pay for other health needs, he said.
 
Hawaii Smokers Alliance co-chair Michael Zehner said he opposes more taxes on tobacco products. Enough is enough, he said.
 
Hawaii already bans smoking in public places, and the Coalition for Tobacco Free Kids reports the state had the fourth highest cigarette excise tax in the nation in December 2012.
 
The state Department of Health and the Hawaii Youth Services Network submitted testimony against the proposal to ban youth smoking. They said making cigarettes illegal would be an ineffective way to try to stop tobacco use.
 
In addition to Baker's bills, the committee is considering several additional measures aimed at preventing youth from smoking.
 
One prohibits selling electronic cigarettes to kids under the age of 18. Another requires stores to place cigarettes behind store counters. A third prohibits tobacco ads from being placed nearby children's toys or snacks.
 
Green said children and women were the most susceptible to tobacco advertising and that curbing youth smoking was a priority for the Senate Health Committee.
 
"There should come a time that no youth ever smoke," Green said. "That's the best thing we can do." Enditem