2008 Woodie Awards
Smoking bill ignites controversy in California
Brian Holbrook, Daily Bruin (U. California-Los Angeles)
Issue date: 4/26/04 Section: News
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(U-WIRE) LOS ANGELES - With the age of 18 comes the right to vote, the ability to go to war and the chance to run for certain public offices. But if California lawmakers have their way, it will not include the ability to purchase tobacco.
The California State Senate is considering a bill that would make the state the first in the nation to require tobacco buyers to be at least 21 years old.
The bill, SB 1821, cleared its first legislative hurdle last month after being approved by the Senate
Health and Human Services committee by a 7-2 vote.
"The tobacco industry has a remarkable 24 percent addiction rate among 18 to 20-year-olds, and they know that they must addict people before the age of 21," Sen. Joseph Dunn, D-Santa Ana, a longtime anti-tobacco advocate and co-author of the measure, said in a statement.
"According to a United States Surgeon General's report, smokers usually have sampled cigarettes at the median age of 14 but did not begin to smoke daily until the age of 18, and a miniscule percentage began smoking after the age of 21," the statement read. "The Surgeon General also reports that 'most people who are going to smoke are hooked by the time they are 20 years old."'
The fiscal impact for California if the bill passes could be significant, as the state stands to lose up to $21 million a year in tax revenues.
Besides countless students who smoke and want to continue to do so, opponents of the measure include the California Independent Grocers and Convenience Stores, California Retailers Association and several tobacco retailers.
Critics of the bill point to the loss in tax revenue as well as the revocation of adult rights as reasons for opposition.
Some students are opposed to the bill because they feel it would have little or no effect on tobacco regulation.
"I don't think it will make a difference. ... A lot of people will still use tobacco," said Shekhar Darke, a 20-year-old third-year business and economics student while he was smoking outside Powell Library.
The California State Senate is considering a bill that would make the state the first in the nation to require tobacco buyers to be at least 21 years old.
The bill, SB 1821, cleared its first legislative hurdle last month after being approved by the Senate
Health and Human Services committee by a 7-2 vote.
"The tobacco industry has a remarkable 24 percent addiction rate among 18 to 20-year-olds, and they know that they must addict people before the age of 21," Sen. Joseph Dunn, D-Santa Ana, a longtime anti-tobacco advocate and co-author of the measure, said in a statement.
"According to a United States Surgeon General's report, smokers usually have sampled cigarettes at the median age of 14 but did not begin to smoke daily until the age of 18, and a miniscule percentage began smoking after the age of 21," the statement read. "The Surgeon General also reports that 'most people who are going to smoke are hooked by the time they are 20 years old."'
The fiscal impact for California if the bill passes could be significant, as the state stands to lose up to $21 million a year in tax revenues.
Besides countless students who smoke and want to continue to do so, opponents of the measure include the California Independent Grocers and Convenience Stores, California Retailers Association and several tobacco retailers.
Critics of the bill point to the loss in tax revenue as well as the revocation of adult rights as reasons for opposition.
Some students are opposed to the bill because they feel it would have little or no effect on tobacco regulation.
"I don't think it will make a difference. ... A lot of people will still use tobacco," said Shekhar Darke, a 20-year-old third-year business and economics student while he was smoking outside Powell Library.
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