Duval SWAT Youth Convince Local Lawmakers to Enact New Policies

November 8, 2011

Duval County, Fla. — Youth from Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) acknowledge and thank the Baldwin town council for adopting a Resolution that urges local retailers to cease the sale and marketing of all candy flavored tobacco products and for passing an Ordinance to prevent unsupervised access to tobacco products by requiring the products to be placed behind the counter of stores that sell tobacco. Duval County SWAT youth appealed to the Baldwin Town Council on October 11, 2011 to pass these child protection measures. The Mayor and Council members voted unanimously and applauded the youth’s civil responsibility. The final reading of the policy will be conducted on November 8, 2011.

"I’ve heard before I even joined SWAT three years ago that I could make a difference, but after representing [the Tobacco-Free Jacksonville Coalition and SWAT] at the Baldwin town council meeting, I knew for a fact that I was making a difference in a positive way. I am proud to have helped pass a resolution and an ordinance regarding tobacco," stated Annabelle Gonzales, president of the Duval County Students Working Against Tobacco chapter.

A similar ordinance was passed by the city of Atlantic Beach in July. Jacksonville Beach council members are drafting a similar resolution. SWAT youth hope to make their presentation to council members of Neptune Beach by the end of the year, and plan to visit the Jacksonville City Council in 2012.

Members of the Tobacco-Free Jacksonville Coalition, Inc. (TFJC) provided training in public speaking, leadership, and working with local governments to the SWAT youth prior to their speaking at the council meetings.

Studies of youth expectations around flavored tobacco products, like bidis and hookahs, have found that young smokers report choosing flavored products over cigarettes because they “taste better” and are perceived to be “safer.” The Tobacco-Free Jacksonville Coalition and SWAT want local governments to know the truth about candy-flavored tobacco products – that they are as addictive and carry similar health risks as regular tobacco products.

Annabelle agrees: "I feel that tobacco companies are developing new tobacco products that taste, smell and, in some cases, even look like candy to make youth try the tobacco products and become addicted."

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) states that in 2004 a study found that 22.8 percent of 17-year-old smokers reported using flavored cigarettes over the past month – compared to just 6.7 percent of smokers over the age of 25.

In September 2009, an FDA ban on flavored cigarettes went into effect under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. Menthol cigarettes and flavored tobacco products other than cigarettes were exempt; although, the FDA is currently examining options to regulate these products.

A poll conducted in March 2008 found that one in five youngsters between the ages of 12 and 17 had seen flavored tobacco products or ads, while only one in 10 adults reported having seen them. Young people are much more likely to use flavored tobacco products than adults, and tobacco industry documents show that companies have designed flavored products with kids in mind.

Read Resolution No. 11-05