Politicians approve anti-tobacco bill. Will it work?

William Atkins
Monday, 22 March 2010 01:01

Opinion and Analysis

The Food and Drug Administration has been given the authority to regulate tobacco sales in the United States, especially among our vulnerable young. Now, we need to make sure this law is enforced so future generations do not die prematurely due to smoking-related diseases and cancers.

 

 

According to the March 22, 2010 iTWire article FDA: cigarette companies will not market to kids, "It has taken fourteen years but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been given the federal power to implement country-wide rules that ban the sale and marketing of tobacco products to children and teenagers and makes restrictions in other areas of the tobacco and cigarette business.'

U.S. representative Henry Waxman (Democrat, California) and 178 other Congressional members sponsored the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (H.R. 1256).

This bill gives the Food and Drug Administration the power and the authority to regulate the distribution, marketing, and selling of tobacco products within the United States.

Beginning on June 22, 2010, the FDA will begin enforcing the new anti-tobacco rule--H.R. 1256.

We (that is, all U.S. citizens) need to make sure that every retail establishment goes by the rule. A photo ID is required by federal law for anyone that looks to be under the age of 18 years in order to purchase tobacco products.

It is also against federal law for tobacco companies, for instance, to sponsor sporting and entertainment events. This is why NASCAR no longer has events named after cigarette brands.

Free samples of tobacco products and giveaways of cigarettes when you purchase non-tobacco products is also prohibited.

Other examples appear on page two, along with a good thing that our politicians have done.