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HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution_19-13_07/11/2013 RESOLUTION NO. 19-13 A RESOLUTION OF THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA, FLORIDA, URGING LOCAL RETAILERS THAT SELL TOBACCO PRODUCTS TO REFRAIN FROM MARKETING AND SELLING FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS, WHICH TEND TO PROMOTE AND INFLUENCE UNDERAGE AND /OR YOUTHFUL CONSUMPTION; DIRECTING THE VILLAGE CLERK TO PROVIDE A COPY OF THIS RESOLUTION TO THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PALM BEACH COUNTY TOBACCO PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROGRAM; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES. WHEREAS, tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in both the United States and in the State of Florida; and WHEREAS, nearly 90 percent of all tobacco users initiate use before they turn 18 years old; and WHEREAS, each day in the United States, more than 4,000 youth try smoking for the first time, and another 2,000 become regular daily smokers; and WHEREAS, the Campaign For Tobacco -Free Kids estimates that 28.7 million packs of cigarettes are purchased or consumed by minors in the State of Florida annually; and WHEREAS, in 2010, 7.5 percent of Palm Beach County middle school students and 20.5 percent of Palm Beach County high school students reported current tobacco use; and WHEREAS, it has been determined that tobacco industry advertising and promotional activities directly account for approximately one third of adolescent experimentation with smoking; and WHEREAS, the 1998 Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement strictly forbids cigarette manufactures from directly or indirectly targeting youth in advertising, marketing, and promotion of tobacco productions aimed at initiating, maintaining, or increasing youth smoking; and WHEREAS, internal tobacco industry documents strongly suggest that manufacturers intentionally target youth through the use of candy -like and sweet flavors in tobacco products, and also show that tobacco companies think it is unfair that they cannot directly market their products to youth; and 1 2 WHEREAS, a 2004 study by the Food and Drug Administration found that while only 6.7 percent of adults ages 25 years and older reported smoking flavored tobacco products, 22.8 percent of teens reported using them; and WHEREAS, candy flavoring masks the initial harsh reactions that occur when experimenting with tobacco products and advertising and marketing campaigns downplay the harmful effects of these products; and WHEREAS, a recent study found that youth believe candy - flavored tobacco products are "safer" and "taste better" than traditional tobacco products; and WHEREAS, surveys conducted by "Students Working Against Tobacco' have recently discovered tobacco products flavored with grape, wine, cream, apple, cherry, and numerous other flavors in various retailers throughout Palm Beach County; and WHEREAS, some of these tobacco products, specifically flavored cigars, cigar rolling papers, and hookah products, Have also been known to be used as drug paraphernalia for smoking marijuana. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE VILLAGE COUNCIL OF THE VILLAGE OF TEQUESTA, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS: Section 1: The Village Council of the Village of Tequesta hereby urges all local retailers that sell tobacco products, especially retailers whose merchandise is accessible to minors, to refrain from marketing and swelling flavored tobacco products, including but not limited to cigars, cigarillos, bidis, smokeless tobacco products, hookah tobacco, and cigar /cigarette rolling papers, in order to reduce the exposure and use of such tobacco products by minors in the Village of Tequesta, Florida Section 2: The Village Clerk is directed to provide a copy of this resolution to the Florida Department of Health Palm Beach County Tobacco Prevention and Control Program. Section 3: This resolution shall be effective immediately upon adoption. 2 The foregoing Resolution was offered by Council Member Paterno who moved its adoption. The motion was seconded by Council Member Okun and upon being put to a vote, the vote was as follows: For Adoption Against Adoption Mayor Abby Brennan X Vice -Mayor Vince Arena X Council Member Steve Okun X Council Member Tom Paterno X Council Member Frank D'Ambra X The Mayor thereupon declared the Resolution duly passed and adopted this 11 day of July 2013. MAYOR OF TEQUESTA YA Abigail rennan ATTEST: �PG a1 E 0" m Lori McWilliams, MMC 099�C �"�'. Village Clerk 19 O ; �'' F�ORIDP` o�` D hlfela all 3