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WEEKLY NEWS 1: Kids Have Less Access to Cigarettes

On Wednesday, December 10, 2003, data related to kids and tobacco sales were released by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at the 2003 National Conference on Tobacco or Health in Boston. Overall, the rate of retailers who sell cigarettes to kids has dropped. This is good news, because tobacco can be dangerous and has been linked to many health problems.

The findings are based on reports submitted by the states. The states report tobacco sales because of a federal law established in 1992. The law restricts access of tobacco to youth and children. The law is known as the Synar Amendment, and it requires states to enforce tobacco rules. The states are required to make sure that their stores do not sell tobacco to youth under the age of 18, and conduct random inspections of tobacco outlets. It is illegal to sell things like cigarettes and chewing tobacco to children.

For the first time, seven states achieved a violation rate of less than 20% by the retailers that sell tobacco products. Those states included Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio and Oklahoma.

Alaska is the only state that failed to meet its retailer violation target in 2003. That means that many stores in the state are still selling tobacco products to underage youth. The state plans to use additional state funds to help improve its tobacco enforcement.

--Written by Carla Shives

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