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Murashige, Laura
CC'P40. 447
From: Jacqueline Yuw Oyuw @hawaii.edu]
Sent: Monday, November 04, 2013 3:59 PM
To: counciltestimony @co.hawaii.hi.us
Subject: Youth Testimony
Attachments: Youth Testimony.doc
Aloha,
Attached you will find my testimony for Jacqueline Yuw. ?c-)
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Mahalo,
Jacqueline ‘.n - -�
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Comm. N ` 17• /_
Ref. To:
Ref. Date NOV 0 6 20
11/5/2013
November 4, 2013
Aloha Chair Yoshimoto, Vice Chair Eoff, and members of the Hawai'i County Council,
My name is Jacqueline Yuw and I attend school at the University of Hawai'i at Hilo. I strongly
support Bill 135, raising the age of tobacco sales to 21.
There are many reasons to raise the age of sale for tobacco products to 21. Every year 1,000
people in Hawaii die prematurely from smoking or exposure to secondhand smoke, and
tobacco-related healthcare expenditures cost Hawai'i $336 million every year. On Hawai'i
Island, 20 percent of young adults between 18 and 24 smoke—more than double the rate of
youth smoking, which is nine percent.
Recently, I had just learned that one of my younger family members is a smoker. He had just
started college as a freshman which means that he is no older than 18 years old (which is
currently the legal age for purchasing cigarettes). I strongly believe that during this age period,
many adolescents start experimenting with cigarettes, which can only lead to no good. We
need to do our best to prevent young adults, especially within the age range of 18-21 years,
from smoking. Even though in reality, we may not be able to prevent all individuals from
smoking, we need to start somewhere.
According to Philip Morris, one of the largest tobacco companies in the U.S, "18 to 24 year olds
[are] critical to long term brand vitality as consumption increases with age." R.J. Reynolds
Tobacco Company acknowledges that "if a man has never smoked by age 18, the odds are
three-to-one he never will. By age 21, the odds are twenty-to-one." It is clear that these
companies are targeting us, with aims to make profit from our health. Our community is in
need of a solution for young adults that have an increased risk for immediate health problems
including increased blood pressure and asthma from tobacco use.
Fortunately, we have a solution to delay youth initiation of deadly tobacco products, which will
reduce the risk of experimentation turning into addiction—by passing this bill. I urge you to
pass Bill 135, for the health of our county and our youth.
Sincerely,
Jacqueline Yuw