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File photo dated 06/19/07 of a man
smoking a cigarette.
File photo dated 06/19/07 of a man
smoking a cigarette.
Obama Approves Anti-Smoking Law to Keep Youngsters From Smoking
Citing his own struggles to quit smoking, President Obama signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act into law, aiming to prevent other teens from picking up the habit.
Nation’s Toughest Anti-Smoking Bill Becomes Law
On Monday, President Obama signed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, the nation’s strictest anti-smoking law to date. The anti-smoking bill issued by the Senate earlier this month aims to prevent teenagers from acquiring the habit. As The Associated Press explains, the bill granted the FDA “unprecedented authority to regulate what goes into tobacco products, to make public the ingredients and to prohibit marketing campaigns geared toward children.”
Although the president mentioned his own struggles to quit smoking—a habit he started as a teenager—he didn’t make specific statements as to how his personal battle against cigarettes is holding up.
Although the president mentioned his own struggles to quit smoking—a habit he started as a teenager—he didn’t make specific statements as to how his personal battle against cigarettes is holding up.
One of the final stipulations of the bill orders a study to be conducted on the “public health implications of raising the minimum age to purchase tobacco products” from the current 18 years. This provision particularly aims to prevent teenagers from becoming young smokers, and thus starting a dangerous habit that might stick with them throughout their entire lives.
The FDA, however, is not allowed to ban tobacco products that are already in existence, or require them to completely eliminate nicotine from their composition. The Moderate Voice explains that it would not be feasible to implement such radical measures, and might even “drive people addicted to nicotine into a criminal black market.”
The FDA, however, is not allowed to ban tobacco products that are already in existence, or require them to completely eliminate nicotine from their composition. The Moderate Voice explains that it would not be feasible to implement such radical measures, and might even “drive people addicted to nicotine into a criminal black market.”
Background: What is the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act?
The newly approved bill allows the FDA to regulate the amount of nicotine included in cigarettes, monitor tobacco-related advertisements and ban candied tobacco products directed toward youngsters.
A summary of the bill provided by GovTrack.us states that tobacco manufacturers will be forced to “disclose all ingredients in its products,” and “release all marketing research documents to the FDA.” Tobacco manufacturers must also notify the FDA if any of these is changed or modified. Tobacco companies are also banned from promoting products marketed as “lower-risk alternatives to traditional tobacco” without health certification from the FDA.
A summary of the bill provided by GovTrack.us states that tobacco manufacturers will be forced to “disclose all ingredients in its products,” and “release all marketing research documents to the FDA.” Tobacco manufacturers must also notify the FDA if any of these is changed or modified. Tobacco companies are also banned from promoting products marketed as “lower-risk alternatives to traditional tobacco” without health certification from the FDA.
Reactions: How will the anti-smoking bill affect consumers?
Forty-five years ago, the U.S. surgeon general issued a warning about tobacco causing lung cancer. Since then, the $89 billion tobacco industry has fiercely opposed passing bills and regulations attempting to monitor their proceedings. This time around, however, the new legislation was met with the support of Philip Morris, the largest tobacco manufacturer in the country.
As The Washington Post explains, the 20 percent of Americans who smoke will be bombarded with increasingly graphic warnings about the health risks involved in smoking. According to GovTrack.us, the packaging of tobacco products will now include “larger, more varied, and more prominent warning labels.”
Supporters of the bill state that the new stipulations could reduce the nearly 400,000 deaths caused by smoking every year and lower tobacco-related health care costs, which amount to as much as $100 billion a year, the AP reported.
As The Washington Post explains, the 20 percent of Americans who smoke will be bombarded with increasingly graphic warnings about the health risks involved in smoking. According to GovTrack.us, the packaging of tobacco products will now include “larger, more varied, and more prominent warning labels.”
Supporters of the bill state that the new stipulations could reduce the nearly 400,000 deaths caused by smoking every year and lower tobacco-related health care costs, which amount to as much as $100 billion a year, the AP reported.
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