HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0447.023 2012-2014 COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAII
RECEIVED
Time 9:Ovext By
Date /x/,113 - ivyCc
November 6, 2013
Aloha Chair Yoshimoto and members of the Hawai'i County Council,
My name is Brieann Astrande and I attend school at Waiakea High. 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. In my family I have
my two brothers, three uncles and my dad. All of my uncles smoke but not my dad and I'm a
very proud daughter to have a dad that does not smoke. While I grew up here in Hilo and on
Honolulu I have seen my babysitter's son smoke, my brother be influenced and make the wrong
decisions and my uncles,. Because my family was very athletic we all grew up in sports. My
brothers played baseball, volleyball, and paddling, and I played basketball. As I got more into
basketball my uncles liked to challenge me but they could never keep up because why?
Because they smoked. My brother didn't do so well in school and didn't get to play much
volleyball. Every time we had a family gathering all of kids would be in the house watching TV
or hangout but we were never hanging out as a family because my uncles were always smoking
outside and not with us. But now when our family has gatherings our uncles are not smoking,
there with all of us talking to each other and my brother started a new path in his life and is
becoming one of the main managers of the island of Honolulu along with training all of Hawai'i.
While going to school every day I always pass by a couple of teenagers who smoke a cigarette
by the bus stop or in their cars off campus and a electronic cigar known as the "E-Cig",all in the
morning, during school, and after school. I have seen what tobacco has done to my generation,
and looking at how students are academically that are smoking tobacco are not doing so well,
and not participate in much school activities. I've seen many students not graduate or get bad
grades because of smoking tobacco. So if this bill passes there may be a higher chance of
students all over this state or island being very successful in school and in life. I've also have
had friends who have lost their family, or have no support from their family because of the use
of tobacco. To me family is everything. But, for some family members that smoke tobacco it can
mess each other up and break up their family. As kids and young teens when our families fight,
and have school the next day, we teenagers carry on that negativity which affects us and
everyone around us especially when it comes to school work. Another reason to raise the age of
21 for tobacco sales is because everyone is still maturing and growing from 20 and younger
(18years old), but at age 21 your brain and body should be growing and maturing more
especially without drugs. It is important to raise the age to 21 because it will stop our generation
from making wrong choices like smoking and letting us make good choices like being able to
become who we want to be by graduating high school or going to college of our dreams and
having a job to support ourselves and family. As I grow up I want to see me and my friends walk
the line as we all graduate and be able to go to college. Also I would like to see families with
young teens and children not fight because one is using drugs. These are my reasons to raise
the age to 21 on tobacco sales. So please pass Bill 135 for the health of our youth and county.
Sincerely,
Ahrtifi
Comm.No, 4417
BREANN ASTRANDE Ref.To; P/coves e/,
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