First Anniversary of Family Smoking and Tobacco Control Act

Washington, DC--Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-17) applauded the tough new rules taking effect today, as a result of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.  The measure, which focuses on tobacco marketing and sales to kids, requires much larger health warning labels on smokeless tobacco products and bans the use of deceptive “light” or “low-tar” labels on cigarettes.

“In the same year that landmark health insurance reform became law, these tobacco provisions will help reverse the trend where tobacco-related illnesses are currently the number-one cause of preventable death in America,” said Rep. Engel, a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health.  “Tobacco is now responsible for about 1 in 5 deaths annually, or more than 400,000 deaths a year and tens of billions of dollars of extra health care costs.”

Rep. Engel added, “The practice of targeting children as customers is particularly disgusting – companies spend more than $12 billion annually to market their products, often in ways designed to appeal to children.  Each day, more than 3,500 young people experiment with cigarettes. Another 1,000 will become hooked with one-third of these children dying as a result.  This law will stop this deadly marketing strategy.”

The following are some of the key provisions targeting tobacco marketing and sales to kids that take effect today:

• Bans all remaining tobacco-brand sponsorships of sports and entertainment events.
• Bans virtually all free tobacco samples and giveaways of non-tobacco items, such as hats and t-shirts, with the purchase of tobacco.
• Prohibits the sale of cigarettes in packs of less than 20 (eliminating so-called “kiddie packs” that make cigarettes more affordable and appealing to kids).
• Requires stores to place cigarettes and other tobacco products behind the counter, out of reach of children.
• Restricts vending machines and self-service displays to adult-only facilities.
• Places a national ban on the sale of tobacco products to people under age 18 (rather than the current state-by-state bans).

In addition, the law:

• Bans terms such as “light,” “mild,” or “low-tar,” when marketing and selling cigarettes.  Many smokers erroneously believe that using these products reduces the risks from smoking. 
• Requires larger, bolder health warnings on smokeless tobacco products and advertising.  Specifically, these warnings must cover 30 percent of package display panels and 20 percent of advertising.  (Large, graphic warnings on cigarette packs and advertising are being developed and will take effect by 2012 or sooner.)  As smoking rates have declined, tobacco companies have introduced new smokeless tobacco products and significantly increased marketing for them.  The most recent government surveys have found that smokeless tobacco has increased by more than 33 percent among 10^th to 12^th graders in recent years.

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