The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCOM 0593.055 2022-2024 bill lag PUBLIC GoMM, HEALTH INSTITUTE f-IIPHI Board tv;-;;,'Pacheco.DrPH Date: January 9,2024 choir Univr II'r'or Nnvr;i'i cr HOn 1- C.C7) To: Heather Kimball,Chair&Presiding Officer JiiAr,r Tsar).v1Pl-1 Holeka Inaba,Vice Chair SeccEtory Members of the Hawai'i County Council !o!,rl,,Burrs 5,;t0G.I of l'Oefii_:ir,i'...\'7 iv — Ici,voi„rt IieSCWCI, T.C"..; Re: Support for Bill 102 AMENDS CHAPTER 14 OF THE HAWAI'I _ r I)«t,hir Frsi;ine. COUNTY CODE 1983(2016 EDITION,AS AMENDED),BY 11"er,5itrer ADDING A NEW ARTICLE RELATING TO THE PROHIBITION OFF w. ti,R I idCP:. _rsu!ti" "•J,:n4r • FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS w F(c$ii(atrdvlphv.15.:5':',r !-ir:o,iry Cents Mfg: Wednesday,January 10,2024 at 9AM Carr_ n:aGraharn-Tutt,PhD • C riss Holley.MEd Hawaii Public Health Institute)(HI PHI)takes this opportunity to submit fan! ,`.I;,};,,;F?a,,ioh ,ir. s testimony in strong support of Bill 102 which would end the sale of 1cnr,iier boa_to.r ti flavored tobacco products in the County of Hawaii when the power to He.ol.i, regulate the sale of tobacco products is restored to the counties.We want to thank the the Committee for considering such an important and timely • Dina a,i:k.JD policy.We recommend a minor amendment to create clarity in the NC:1Cr.i Li �i P,,r trier thip „ 1 or C;,fOr.,.,.;,ill I,,n,,,,,;i definition of"flavored tobacco product. 81%of Hawaii youth started with a flavored product," and by ending the sale of all menthol and other flavored tobacco products,the county can h:athlor ,r Roche.he.MS.12N,CE NP prioritize the health and safety of our community.A report by the US Food Ioc;ouy.'tr""rncnt` and Drug Administration,issued in 2013,found that menthol cigarettes led t z, t`kihiro.MD.MS to increased smoking initiation among youth and young adults,more iihnA,.Su'-(is Schooloi Mc ionf.. significant addiction,and decreased success in quitting smoking.Candy, t'f""orrrm o tG'`fr&n`ri sweet,and menthol flavored tobacco attracts youth and makes nicotine TitiimaeaTa'ase.JD tolerable. ;rat nep:ir,Pui!ic ?-r,-n Fir Unregulated menthol and flavored tobacco products severely threaten our I iIP1 al Initiatives established tobacco control policies and do not protect our children.Flavor Coa icn for, tobacco products have such a negative impact on public health that over Tobacco-Free ia,;'.,' 360 localities have passed restrictions on the sale of flavored tobacco ;_or;,,,,,;,;.,..I leolti, products,and at least 170 of those communities restrict the sale of menthol ri li-+iiw_ cigarettess as well as other flavored tobacco products.' Ct]V1D-19'Qanoonst: Flavored products are driving youth use. Dru' "caul F;,;,, Flavors in tobacco products entice youth,and nicotine keeps them addicted.In 2020,8 in 10 youth who use e-cigarettes reported using a I Irs,:i i l::,r„to c.hr:c:I H,,i flavored product.Of youth e-cigarette users,85%use flavored products, • i )r i Ei ,lt,c ;,uripn and fruit,candy/desserts/other sweets,mint,and menthol are reported as the most popular flavors'.According to the 2021 YRBS,Hawaii County i'i Pr:hlir H.:.-I r N , ThelHawai,if!ublic Health Institute(HIPHI)is a hub for building healthy communities,providing issue-based advocacy,education,and technical assistance through partnerships with government,academia,foundations,business,and community-based organizations. 2 https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/assets/factsheets/0398.pdf 3 https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/what-we-do/industrv-watch/e-cigarettes#:":text=Flavored%20products%20are% 9 S ( r 20driving%20vouth.as%20the%20most%20popular%20flavors. Comm. No. ■■ . 7 Ref.To: !IlI1l;. i-2 - Ref. (Date ,j' 1 Q 0 4 teens are using E-Cigarettes at a hgher rate than all other counties,and 6% of 6th graders,nearly 8%of 7th graders,and 9.3%of 8th graders are using ESDs.Ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products will reduce their appeal and protect our children from a lifetime of addiction. Menthol is a significant risk to health in Hawai`i. Tobacco companies use menthol as a calculated tactic to hook new consumers.Menthol's cooling and numbing properties mask the harshness of tobacco.The tobacco industry aggressively targets its marketing to certain populations,including young people,women,and racial and ethnic minority groups'.Menthol is one of the most popular youth flavors in Hawai'i.Furthermore,78% of Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders who smoke use menthol cigarettes'. Studies show that youth and young adults are more likely to try a menthol cigarette as their first cigarette,and those who first start with a menthol cigarette are more likely to continue smoking6. In Hawai'i,66%of those who smoke use menthol cigarettes compared to 32%who smoke them nationally'.Menthol enhances the efficts of nicotine,which is an addictive drug.Menthol can make tobacco products even more addictive,and in recent years,tobacco companies have increased the amount of nicotine in some menthol cigarettes.If menthol cigarettes were no longer available, roughly 4,400 additioanl adults in Hawaii who smoke would quit smoking'. Kids have shifted dramatically to disposable and menthol e-cigarettes,two categories of products left on the market under current federal restrictions.These shifts show that the only way to end this crisis is to eliminate all flavored tobacco products'. Hawai'i voters want restrictions. In a December 2022 poll10 of registered voters on O`ahu conducted by Ward Research Inc.,93%of respondents said that school aged children yapping or using e-cigarettes is a major problem; 79% of support a law prohibiting all flavors,including menthol,of tobacco products,and e-cigarettes;and, 84%believe that the use of e-cigarettes or vaping devices is harmful for Hawaii's children,teens and families. 4 https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic information/menthol/related-health-disparities.html#::text=In%202023%2C %2040.4%25%20of%20midd le.cigarettes%20reported%20using%20menthol%20cigarettes.&text=In%202020%2C% 2053%25%20of%20voung,cigarettes%20reported%20usi ng%2 5 https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2020/08/vaping-linked-to-covid-19-risk-in-teens-and-young-adults.html 6 https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_i nformation/menthol/related-health-disparities.html#::text=In%202023%2C %2040.4%25%20of%20midd le,cigarettes%20reported%20usi ng%20menthol%20cigarettes.&text=In%202020%2C% 2053%25%20of%20young,cigarettes%20reported%20using%20menthol%20cigarettes. 'https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/menthol/state-menthol-fact-sheets.html#HI 8 https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/menthol/state-menthol-fact-sheets.html#HI 9 httos://www.tobaccofreekids.org/what-we-do/industry-watch/e-cigarettes#::text=Flavored%20orod ucts%20are% 20d rivi ng%20vouth,as%20th a%20m ost%2Opoou I a r%2Ofl avors. 10 This study by Ward Research, Inc.summarizes findings from a phone survey among n=719 Hawaii registered voters(maximum sampling error+/-3.6%),conducted between November 4-29,2022. hiphi.org e 707 Richards Street,Suite 300 e Honolulu, Hawaii 96813 By passing this legislation,with the suggested amendment,the county sends a strong,clear message to the public that the County of Hawai'i is committed to uplifiting the health and well-being of its residents and showing that community health is more important than tobacco profits. Thank you for considering this matter and our testimony.We are in strong support of the measure with the recommended changes for this important public health policy. Mahalo, Kealoha Madriaga West Hawaii Tobacco and HEAL Coalition Coordinator Hawai'i Public Health Institute hiphi.org • 707 Richards Street,Suite 300 • Honolulu,Hawaii 96813