§ 54-281. Purposes.

(a)

The protection of the public welfare requires that potential access by minors to all forms of tobacco products be strictly regulated.

(b)

Harvard University and the National Institute on Drug Abuse have reported that the nicotine in tobacco is a powerful, habit-forming drug that leads to compulsive use, and produces strong withdrawal symptoms. The U.S. Public Health Service has described nicotine addiction as the most widespread example of drug dependence in our country.

(c)

Studies have found that nicotine addiction typically begins in childhood. It has been estimated that thousands of American children smoke for the first time every day. Many youth, particularly male teenagers, use smokeless tobacco. Reported tests have shown that minors as young as 11 years of age have experienced little or no difficulty in purchasing tobacco products.

(d)

The purpose of this division is to reduce the likelihood of minors obtaining tobacco products in the city, by regulation of the potential sources thereof without unduly interfering with permitted transactions or prohibiting tobacco vending machines. This division enables affected persons to determine for themselves the methods they will employ to achieve compliance with this division.

(Ord. No. 97-01, § 2(6.86.010), 1-2-1997; Ord. No. 97-13, § 2, 3-26-1997; Ord. No. 97-17, § 2, 9-24-1997)