Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0593.042 2022-2024 P /Council bill 102 COMK.593 From: Jay Ihara Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2023 9:44 AM - To: Council Testimony Subject: Bill 102 Testimony Aloha Chair Kimball,Vice Chair Inaba,and members of the Hawaii County Council My Name is Jay Ihara and I'm the East Hawaii Tobacco-Free Coordinator with the Hawaii Public Health Institute. I'm in support of Bill 102 • 39.7%of teens in Hawai`i county tried e-cigarettes, surpassing the Hawai'i state(32.4%) and national (36.2%) results. • Flavored products are driving this epidemic,where 85%of youth e-cigarette users use flavored products. (2021 Hawaii Health Matters). Flavors in tobacco products entice youth, while the nicotine keeps them hooked for life.Tobacco companies target kids in Hawaii using flavors such as c r; Maui mango, shaka strawberry, and Molokai hot breads' Ending the sale of flavored tobacco products will reduce the appeal of these products and protect our keiki�fr©m lifetime of addiction. CD Big tobacco companies know that in order to have customers for life,they need to addict kids to nicotine when they are young. Once addicted, it is difficult to quit. w Menthol is just as, if not more, harmful than any other flavor in tobacco. Notorious for its ability to mask the harshness of tobacco, menthol makes it easier to start and harder to quit. If our aim is to protect our keiki and reduce the burden of tobacco in our communities, we must include menthol. Ending the sale of all flavored tobacco will advance health equity—disparities in tobacco use are due to the tobacco industry's history of marketing menthol cigarettes to youth and people of color. In Hawai'i, 78%of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander smokers use menthol cigarettes. Mint and menthol-flavored e-cigarettes are one of the most popular flavors among youth. Ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products is essential in stopping the youth e-cigarette epidemic. Mahalo, Jay Ihara East Hawaii Tobacco-Free Coordinator Hawaii Public Health Institute. Phone: (808)591-6508 x26 Email: iay@hiphi.org fl Comm. ' .. ■ `1 ��TTtI�L Ref. To: l��l� lii�■ 1 Ref. Dote DEC 2 0 2023