The New Tobacco Laws Are Now Rolling Out
Last year’s Tobacco Control Act was crafted with prevention in mind targeting youth smokers.
But, the new tobacco regulations that became effective in June 2010 may also encourage adults to stop smoking.
I agree with Jeanne Sager of, “The Stir.” She posted on her blog on June 25th that the effects of last week’s legislation of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act “will have some major adult effects too.”
Having a law that helps to prevent smoking for all members of a family does not come any time too soon.
Effects of the New Tobacco Law on Adults
Sager pointed out, “the small packs of ‘twenty’ or less cigarettes” will not be allowed to be sold. This change will hit the pocket book of some smokers who can’t afford to cut into their budget for the larger packs.
No longer can a smoker purchase a few cigarettes when cash is low or if they are young smokers who can only afford to buy a few at a time.
Another change, is the use of the words, ultra light, mild, and low-tar are now banned to clearly dispel any illusions that some tobacco products carry less dangers than others.
Tobacco companies use to offer gifts with purchases to entice young and adult smokers to buy more tobacco products. This incentive will stop with the new tobacco tax codes.
Imagine Sporting Events without Cigarette Ads
One of most far reaching regulations and perhaps one of the most significant will be the absence of all the tobacco ads that are repeated over and over at sporting events.
Like a hypnotic suggestion, the repetitive tobacco ads clearly prompted a smoker to reach for a cigarette just when the game began to get exciting.
Like Sager says, “the temptation is gone.” Now the playing field is more family friendly at sporting events than they have been in years.
Fewer cigarette ads mean less lure for kids to accept that smoking is a part of the typical sporting event experience.
Really? I’m 26 and for me I need to smoke at least six cigarettes a day, so tough! Well even though I am a smoker for almost two years, I still agree with this policy because it is a protection for younger people. It’s for them to be healthy and make a brighter future for themselves.