HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0447.010 2012-2014 Page 1 of 1
P/C wiczL
Murashige, Laura 1or ni 44 7
From: Sally Ancheta [sally @tobaccofreehawaii.org]
Sent: Tuesday, November 05, 2013 9:20 AM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Cc: 'Jane Clement'
Subject: Testimony for Bill No 135
w n
Attachments: HC Bill 135 1st reading Testimony SAncheta final.docx
c
Aloha Hawai'i County Council members, ;
Please accept this written testimony in support of Bill No. 135 Ui -<
Mahalo, ,,. 7")
Sally Ancheta -:
Coalition for a Tobacco-Free Hawaii
East Hawaii Community Coalition Coordinator
sally @tobaccofreehawaii.org
www.tobaccofreehawaii.org
(808) 936-2686
Mahalo Hawaii County Council for making all Hawai'i County Parks, Beaches, Recreation Facilities&All Vehicles
with minors present SMOKE-FREE!
Comm. NL (1"17./a
Ref.To: fe.
Ref. Date r • 0 fl
11/5/2013
j con 1. I r ION i'OP.
' 1.» TOIIACCO TREE IIAWA'
Hawai l kIan,
C l,l
f,I>acco fre.
October 8, 2013
Honorable Chair Yoshimoto and Hawai'i County Council Members
Aloha, as the Coalition for a Tobacco Free Hawai'i, East Hawai'i Coalition Coordinator(Coalition), we
want to congratulate the Hawai'i County Council for voting 9-0 to move Bill No 135, to raise the age of
sale of all tobacco products to the first reading, with a favorable recommendation. We are in strong
support of Hawaii County Bill No 135. In Hawaii County,youth ages 12-17 years old have a smoking
rate of 9% but those rates more than double to 20%at ages 18-24. According to the Surgeon General's
report in 2012, 95%of current adult smokers started before the age of 21.
It alarms us that younger children have access to tobacco products by older youth who can purchase it
for them. According to the 2011 Hawai'i Youth Tobacco Survey (HYTS), conducted by the State of
Hawaii Department of Health (DOH), over 25%of youth get their tobacco products by someone older
who purchases the products for them. With the ease of access of tobacco products, and new emerging
products, we are seeing youth initiation start to increase and become more visible on high school
campuses.
Last week, New York City lawmakers approved their bill --which raises the purchasing age from 18 to 21
for cigarettes, certain tobacco products and electronic-cigarettes-- and another that sets minimum price
for tobacco cigarettes and steps up law enforcement on illegal tobacco sales. "This will literally save
many, many lives," said an emotional City Councilman James Gennaro, the bill's sponsor, whose mother
and father died from tobacco-related illnesses. "I've lived with it, I've seen it...but I feel good today."
Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is a strong supporter of the tough smoking restrictions, has 30 days to
sign the bills into law. The minimum age bill will take effect 180 days after enactment.
We continue to speak to our communities and have asked our residents, from teens to tutus, how they
feel about raising the age of sale of tobacco products to 21. We have gathered over 1,000 petition
signatures and have collected nearly 300 post card testimonies in the past few weeks. Additionally, a
poll conducted by an independent research firm for the Coalition has found strong support for this
policy initiative. 65%of Hawaii Island voters support raising the age of sale of tobacco products to 21.
In closing, the youth and young adults of Hawai'i County overwhelmingly support Bill No. 135. We have
gathered over 300 pieces of testimony from high school students and nearly 300 signatures from UH
Hilo/Hawai'i Community College students over the past several months. The Coalition urges you to
support Bill 135 —to protect the health of our community, and our young people, from the deadly
effects of tobacco, it will decrease youth from becoming tobacco addicts and ultimately it will save lives.
Mahalo nui loa,
will/ k14-cketa, CTFH East Hawai'i Community Coalition Coordinator