WASHINGTON, D.C. – CityHealth, an initiative of the de Beaumont Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, welcomed action by the U.S. Congress today to make Tobacco 21 national law. Policies that raise the minimum legal age for the sale of tobacco products to 21 can lower the number of young people using these products, which greatly reduces their risk for addiction, disease, and premature death.
CityHealth helps cities achieve better results for their residents by advancing a menu of nine proven policies that improve people’s day-to-day quality of life, well-being and health. Tobacco 21 is one of those policies.
“CityHealth welcomes this action by Congress to follow the lead of cities by ensuring every child, no matter where they live in this country, is protected by Tobacco 21,” said Dr. Shelley Hearne, President of CityHealth. “The evidence has long shown that this policy is a key building block to ensure kids cannot purchase tobacco products, and the e-cigarette epidemic that has taken such a harmful toll throughout the U.S. over the last two years makes these protections even more urgent. Cities and towns all over America have led on this issue for years, and we are glad to see Washington following their lead.
“But more needs to be done to eliminate the most preventable cause of death. Cities are leading on many efforts, including strengthening smoke-free indoor air laws and restricting tobacco flavors that experts know lure kids. We hope Congress will do more, so that every child in America can grow without the harms of these products.”
According to the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, 530 localities have already passed Tobacco 21. CityHealth recently awarded medals to the largest 40 cities in the country according to the strength of their Tobacco 21 policy. Find your city’s Tobacco 21 medal here.
CityHealth, an initiative of the de Beaumont Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, works to advance a package of proven policy solutions that will help millions of people live longer, better lives in vibrant, prosperous communities. CityHealth regularly evaluates cities on the number and strength of their policies. https://www.cityhealth.org/
CONTACT Liz Voyles, liz@www.cityhealth.org, 202-297-9641
