The Apalachicola City Commission unanimously adopted Resolution 2010-03 at their March 2 regular scheduled meeting, at the behest of David Walker, Human Services Program Manager with the Franklin County Health Department.Walker requested the resolution in response to an intense campaign that the Chapters of the Tobacco Free Franklin Partnership and the Franklin County Students Working against Tobacco (SWAT) have waged against the sale of tobacco products to minors under the age of 18.
According to a 2008 Florida Youth Tobacco Survey, smokeless tobacco use among Franklin County High and Middle School students are among the highest in the State.
The Resolution adopted by the Apalachicola Board of City Commissioners at the March 2 meeting:
Resolution # 2010-03
TOBACCO PRODUCTS PLACEMENT RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Florida Legislature has enacted laws, located in Chapter 569, Florida Statutes, that provide for increased regulation of the retail sale of tobacco products; and
WHEREAS, The Florida Legislature has, in Chapter 569, provided for civil, administrative, and/or criminal penalties for the sale of tobacco products to an underage person and for the possession of such tobacco products by an underage person; and
WHEREAS, the State of Florida has entered into a settlement with the tobacco industry for billions of dollars to reimburse the state for some of the health care costs incurred by the state due to the prevalence of tobacco use; and
WHEREAS, the government and residents of the City of Apalachicola are also concerned about the use of tobacco products by underage persons; and
WHEREAS, a reduction in the availability, both visually and physically, of tobacco products to underage persons will lead to a reduction in underage persons obtaining tobacco products which will likely lead to a reduction in tobacco product use by underage persons.
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF APALACHICOLA COMMISSIONERS THAT: it supports the placement of all tobacco products “behind the counter” in all retail establishments so as to limit underage accessibility to such products.
THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF APALACHICOLA
Mayor Van Johnson
WHEREAS, The Florida Legislature has, in Chapter 569, provided for civil, administrative, and/or criminal penalties for the sale of tobacco products to an underage person and for the possession of such tobacco products by an underage person; and
WHEREAS, the State of Florida has entered into a settlement with the tobacco industry for billions of dollars to reimburse the state for some of the health care costs incurred by the state due to the prevalence of tobacco use; and
WHEREAS, the government and residents of the City of Apalachicola are also concerned about the use of tobacco products by underage persons; and
WHEREAS, a reduction in the availability, both visually and physically, of tobacco products to underage persons will lead to a reduction in underage persons obtaining tobacco products which will likely lead to a reduction in tobacco product use by underage persons.
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF APALACHICOLA COMMISSIONERS THAT: it supports the placement of all tobacco products “behind the counter” in all retail establishments so as to limit underage accessibility to such products.
THE MAYOR OF THE CITY OF APALACHICOLA
Mayor Van Johnson
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