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LEADERS AND KIDS FIGHT TOBACCO ADVERTISING
Monday April 09, 2001FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 9, 2001
Contact: Josh Freed
(202) 225-4431
REP. DeGETTE: 'FDA SHOULD REGULATE TOBACCO TO STOP ADVERTISERS FROM TARGETING OUR KIDS'
DENVER, CO - U.S. Representative Diana DeGette (CO-1), local health advocates and area kids spoke out against tobacco advertising today and called for federal legislation to grant the FDA the authority to regulate tobacco as a drug. Recent studies in Colorado show that area teens are more likely to smoke than kids in other states, with statistics showing 35% of teens use tobacco regularly.
Rep. DeGette is sponsoring federal legislation to give the FDA the power to regulate tobacco as a drug, thereby allowing curbs on advertising.
"We are here today to bring attention to the number one health problem facing the country today: death and disease associated with the use of tobacco products," said Rep. DeGette. "The evidence overwhelmingly shows that smoking is the leading cause of cancer and heart disease -- the top two causes of death in the United States."
In 1996, the Food & Drug Administration issued regulations that restricted the sale and marketing of tobacco products to children and allowed the FDA to regulate the nicotine content in tobacco products. Now, because of a US Supreme Court decision, congressional action is necessary to maintain the FDA's regulatory role.
Although the Supreme Court acknowledged that tobacco use poses an extremely significant public health threat, the court ruled that current law precludes the FDA from regulating tobacco products. "This ruling was a major setback for our families and children," added Rep. DeGette. "The legislation I am announcing today will fix the problem and once again allow the FDA to regulate tobacco."
In the Supreme Court decision, justices clearly stated that, "tobacco use, particularly among children and adolescents, poses perhaps the single most significant threat to public health in the United States." Rep. DeGette was joined by local health advocates and kids in front of a Marlboro sign in downtown Denver that is two blocks from Baker Middle School and Fairmount Elementary.
Every year, more than 400,000 Americans die of tobacco-related diseases, with nearly 80 percent having started smoking as children. As many as four million children under the age of 18 smoke cigarettes with 3,000 more starting each day. Just last week, two disturbing studies were released, one showing that 35% of teenagers in Colorado are regular users of tobacco products. This alarming rate of teen use is the highest in the country. Another study, this one by the Surgeon General, showed a rapid rise in the number of young girls who are smoking.
The bill will:
* Grant authority over tobacco use and marketing to the FDA.
* Declare tobacco to be addictive and specifically include tobacco in the definition of "drug" and "device" under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
* Require warning labels to be placed on smokeless tobacco products and advertisements.
* The bill will also re-instate the FDA Rule, which:
o Bans most cigarette vending machines, self-service displays, and free samples to reduce child access to harmful tobacco products.
o Prevents advertising within 1,000 feet of schools and playgrounds.
o Prohibits "sexy" marketing by requiring ads to be in black and white lettering, prohibits ads to be placed on baseball caps, and t-shirts, and prohibits tobacco companies from sponsoring entertainment and sporting events.
Also speaking at the press conference were Penny Baldwin, a volunteer for the American Cancer Society of Colorado who began smoking as a young teen and is now a cancer survivor; Susan Morrisey, Executive Director of the Colorado Tobacco Education and Prevention Alliance; and Bob Doyle, a tobacco prevention program manager from the American Lung Association of Colorado.
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April 9, 2001
Contact: Josh Freed
(202) 225-4431
REP. DeGETTE: 'FDA SHOULD REGULATE TOBACCO TO STOP ADVERTISERS FROM TARGETING OUR KIDS'
DENVER, CO - U.S. Representative Diana DeGette (CO-1), local health advocates and area kids spoke out against tobacco advertising today and called for federal legislation to grant the FDA the authority to regulate tobacco as a drug. Recent studies in Colorado show that area teens are more likely to smoke than kids in other states, with statistics showing 35% of teens use tobacco regularly.
Rep. DeGette is sponsoring federal legislation to give the FDA the power to regulate tobacco as a drug, thereby allowing curbs on advertising.
"We are here today to bring attention to the number one health problem facing the country today: death and disease associated with the use of tobacco products," said Rep. DeGette. "The evidence overwhelmingly shows that smoking is the leading cause of cancer and heart disease -- the top two causes of death in the United States."
In 1996, the Food & Drug Administration issued regulations that restricted the sale and marketing of tobacco products to children and allowed the FDA to regulate the nicotine content in tobacco products. Now, because of a US Supreme Court decision, congressional action is necessary to maintain the FDA's regulatory role.
Although the Supreme Court acknowledged that tobacco use poses an extremely significant public health threat, the court ruled that current law precludes the FDA from regulating tobacco products. "This ruling was a major setback for our families and children," added Rep. DeGette. "The legislation I am announcing today will fix the problem and once again allow the FDA to regulate tobacco."
In the Supreme Court decision, justices clearly stated that, "tobacco use, particularly among children and adolescents, poses perhaps the single most significant threat to public health in the United States." Rep. DeGette was joined by local health advocates and kids in front of a Marlboro sign in downtown Denver that is two blocks from Baker Middle School and Fairmount Elementary.
Every year, more than 400,000 Americans die of tobacco-related diseases, with nearly 80 percent having started smoking as children. As many as four million children under the age of 18 smoke cigarettes with 3,000 more starting each day. Just last week, two disturbing studies were released, one showing that 35% of teenagers in Colorado are regular users of tobacco products. This alarming rate of teen use is the highest in the country. Another study, this one by the Surgeon General, showed a rapid rise in the number of young girls who are smoking.
The bill will:
* Grant authority over tobacco use and marketing to the FDA.
* Declare tobacco to be addictive and specifically include tobacco in the definition of "drug" and "device" under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.
* Require warning labels to be placed on smokeless tobacco products and advertisements.
* The bill will also re-instate the FDA Rule, which:
o Bans most cigarette vending machines, self-service displays, and free samples to reduce child access to harmful tobacco products.
o Prevents advertising within 1,000 feet of schools and playgrounds.
o Prohibits "sexy" marketing by requiring ads to be in black and white lettering, prohibits ads to be placed on baseball caps, and t-shirts, and prohibits tobacco companies from sponsoring entertainment and sporting events.
Also speaking at the press conference were Penny Baldwin, a volunteer for the American Cancer Society of Colorado who began smoking as a young teen and is now a cancer survivor; Susan Morrisey, Executive Director of the Colorado Tobacco Education and Prevention Alliance; and Bob Doyle, a tobacco prevention program manager from the American Lung Association of Colorado.
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