Columbia''s Substance Abuse Advisory Commission Approves Proposed Tobacco Policies

Source from:  Columbia Missourian 11/13/2014

First Ward Councilwoman Ginny Chadwick's push to increase the purchase age of tobacco products from 18 to 21 and add electronic cigarettes to the city's smoke-free ban for restaurants and bars has gained support from the Substance Abuse Advisory Commission.

Chadwick proposed the changes to city ordinances in early September to discourage smoking among young people.

A handful of people attended Wednesday's meeting, and only two spoke passionately about the proposed changes.

Rob Leon, executive director at Missouri Petroleum Marketers and Convenience Store Association, spoke to the committee about why he and the 28 association convenience stores in Columbia he represents oppose the policy changes.

"You do not have the authority to change state and federal law," Leon said. He also noted that the commission voted against a proposed marijuana ordinance because it was against state and federal law and that it would be hypocritical to not do the same for the proposed tobacco laws.

Leon said tobacco product users will go outside the city to buy products and that the limited sales tax revenue the city generates from the sale of tobacco products will hurt the city's budget.

According to the National Association of Convenience Stores, tobacco products made up 40.7 percent of all in-store sales in 2012.

Traci Kennedy, who lives in Columbia and is a member of Tobacco Free Missouri, spoke in support of the proposed changes and the benefits they could have for Columbia.

She said that because Columbia doesn't have the authority to raise the taxes on cigarettes, implementing a higher age restriction is the next best way to curb tobacco consumption.

She also noted that the current tobacco purchase age of 18 allows teens in high school to smoke, which is when most young people start.

Kennedy said that other Missouri cities, including Branson and two Kansas City suburbs, have recently enacted similar policies to those Chadwick has proposed.

Commission member Teresa Stephenson said she agreed with the intent of the proposals, but she didn't think it would be effective to raise the purchase age.

"It will send the message we don't want you to smoke, but I do not see the benefit or the effectiveness of making that change," Stephenson said.

The commission voted 6-1 to increase the purchase age of tobacco and electronic cigarette products to 21, with Stephenson opposed and Joseph Priesmeyer abstaining.

There was no public comment on the proposal to ban the use of electronic cigarettes indoors. The commission voted 6-1 in favor of the proposal with Stephenson opposed, and Priesmeyer abstained again.

Priesmeyer abstained from voting on both proposals because of what he said was a conflict of interest associated with his work. He's president of N.H. Scheppers Distributing Co., a beer distributor in mid-Missouri, according to the company's website.

Kim Dude, assistant director of the MU Wellness Resource Center and a member of the commission, said the impact of this policy change will not be seen immediately　but overtime as healthcare costs decrease.

"People know smoking is bad for them, so education is not going to change their decision," Dude said. Enforcing existing policies and increasing age restrictions will help curb tobacco product consumption, she said.

Columbia City Council will take the recommendation of the Substance Abuse Advisory Commission and the Columbia/Boone County Board of Health into consideration before voting on Chadwick's proposals.

The Board of Health will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday at 1005 W. Worley St. to vote on the proposals. Enditem