CRAWFORDVILLE, Fla. -- Wakulla County will soon be enforcing a new ordinance aimed at keeping flavored tobacco out of the hands of minors.
The measure was adopted on November 5, 2012, by the Wakulla Board of County Commissioners, and goes into effect on February 1. It bans stores that are open to those under the age of 21 from selling or distributing flavored tobacco. Stores that only allow access to people over 21 can continue to selling the products.
Flavored tobacco is tobacco products like cigars, cigarettes, snuff, chewing tobacco, smokeless tobacco products and blunt wraps that have had artificial or natural flavors added to them. In 2009, the FDA banned the sale of candy flavored cigarettes across the country, but other existing and new tobacco products were exempt from the measure.
According to Tobacco Free Florida, the new flavored tobacco product appeal to younger audiences and have parents, teachers, and health officials concerned. In Florida, one in six kids between the ages of 11 and 17 has ever tried flavored tobacco. Tobacco Free Florida says that the tobacco industry’s own documents show that these sweet tobacco products are designed to get children to start using tobacco products.
Officials say that taking the products out of stores where kids shop is a step forward towards keeping local youth tobacco free.
For additional information, please contact Jessica Welch, Communications and Public Services Director at 850-926-0919 ext. 706.
