As Floridians, we are confronted with a daily issue that kills an average of 1,300 Floridians every day.
The problems are known as tobacco products. Cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, cigars, cigarillos, and e-cigarettes are all being promoted and sold with bright colors and sweet flavors. Anyone can find these products in grocery stores, local gas stations, and convenience stores. Smoking leads the main cause of preventable death in the United States.
In Florida alone, smoking is responsible for more than 32,300 deaths per year. For every death due to a smoking-related illness, there are 30 more people living with the long-term effects of smoking cigarettes, chewing tobacco, and vaping.
Tobacco companies perceive today’s youth as “replacement smokers”, someone to replace their older and dying customers.
Tobacco companies use influencers known amongst children and teens to advertise smoking and vaping as attractive, glamorous, and cool. They even use flavors to advertise alongside different tobacco products that children and teens are drawn to. Exposure to tobacco advertisements has been shown to increase the initiation and continuation of tobacco use, especially among youth.
Research has shown that youth who’re exposed to advertising, live in areas with higher retailer density, or both, are also more likely to smoke.
The Washington County Tobacco Free Partnership has taken various measures to educate the community on the marketing tactics used by Tobacco Companies. They have educated local retailers on Assurance Voluntary Compliance (AVC).
The Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVCs) are contracts between a company and one or more states.
This is a step to remind retailers of the law when it comes to selling tobacco products.
Retailers are reminded that they are to check identification to ensure they are not selling to minors and that federal law has recently raised the age to purchase tobacco products to 21.
The Tobacco Free Partnership members provided store managers with “Under 21?” signage such as static clings, counter mats, and clock calendars.
In addition to AVC compliance, an assessment of product placement and advertisement has been conducted.
This assessment showed that tobacco industry tactics including price promotions and packaging that are attractive to youth are utilized in Washington County at the point of sale.
For more information, please contact Milton Brown at Milton.Brown@flhealth.gov or call (850)845-5075.
