How One Group of Teens Took a Stand Against Tobacco
In Union City, Calif., members of the city’s Youth Commission were concerned over the easy access their peers had to flavored cigars, cigarillos and electronic smoking devices such as e-cigarettes. These gateway tobacco products are often packaged in exciting ways, have kid-friendly flavors, can cost less than cigarettes, and can lead to a lifetime of nicotine addiction.
According to the CDC, as recently as 2012, 6.7 percent of middle school and 23.3 percent of U.S. high school students surveyed said they currently used tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, hookahs and electronic cigarettes. Smoking cigars is the second most common form of tobacco use among youth, and much of the growing popularity of cigars appears to be linked to flavored products. Between 2011 and 2012, the use of electronic cigarettes doubled among middle and high school students.
Members of the Union City Youth Commission, made up of students from local schools who want to play an active role in their community, found that the behavior of their peers was consistent with these national trends.
“I’ve seen people using [e-hookahs] in class,” said Mark Gruzman, who serves as a tobacco decoy—who, under the supervision of law enforcement, checks whether retailers are selling tobacco to minors. “They’re so easy to get away with while the teacher is not looking.”
Noting the widespread availability of inexpensive cigars and the growing use of e-cigarettes, Union City’s Youth Commission decided to take action against these teen-targeted tobacco products.
First, the Commission conducted a survey of Union City’s tobacco retailers, often using tobacco decoys to gain access to any products sold from behind the counter. In one case, a merchant said that “[kids] buy cheap cigarillos, clean the wrappers out, and fill them with other drugs.”
After visiting 47 of the 49 retailers within city limits, the Youth Commission discovered 70 percent of these retailers sold flavored cigars for less than $2, while 43 percent sold flavored smokeless tobacco products, and 21 percent carried e-cigarettes. In one case, they found a local store selling a 20-pack of flavored cigars for only $1.99 – less than a candy bar.
Knowing the tobacco industry targets young people through advertisements and price promotions, the Youth Commission prepared to approach the City Council to advocate for change.
Members of the Youth Commission needed more information about what other communities have done to address teen-friendly tobacco products. ChangeLab Solutions helped the Youth Commission and the county tobacco control program identify several policy options. For example, we noted several cities have prohibited sales of cheap single cigars, and we shared model policy language based in part on successful ordinances from other communities. We are able to provide this free assistance through funding from the California Department of Public Health.
In May 2013, armed with information from ChangeLab Solutions about the sale and use of e-cigarettes and a model Tobacco Retailer Licensing ordinance, the Youth Commission recommended the City Council consider restricting tobacco products that appeal to kids. Several Youth Commission members and their adult advocates spoke in support of the Commission’s recommendations to regulate the sale of these products within city limits.
In response, Union City’s City Council members voted unanimously to prohibit the sale of cheap individual cigars and regulate the sale of electronic smoking devices in the same manner as traditional tobacco products. This means that in Union City, retailers selling e-cigarettes must have a local tobacco retailer’s license and keep these products behind the counter. In addition, new e-cigarette lounges and hookah bars are banned within city limits.
Many other cities in California are following Union City’s lead, and the Youth Commission now provides a solid example of the vital role teens can play in mobilizing communities.
Image by Fried Dough via Flickr