Rise in youth smoking could cost Wash. state money
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TUMWATER, Wash. -- Officials from the state health department, the liquor control board and the Thurston County sheriff's office met on Wednesday to tackle the problem of children using tobacco.
State and local health officials are concerned, and not only for the health risks associated with smoking, but with the financial penalties at stake in the issue.
According to the state, the sale of tobacco to minors is at 10-year high. Currently, 13 percent of Washington State minors smoke cigarettes.
It's a battle Secretary of Heath Mary Selecky continues to fight.
"They're selling tobacco to kids who are underage age 18, and its against the law," Selecky said.
Over the last few years, the state says between 12 and 15 percent of tobacco retailers haven't been doing adequate identification checks.
Even though federal law states businesses must ask to see ID from anyone who appears younger than 27-years old, statistics show that isn't happening.
Officials say the problem rests mainly with mom-and-pop stores across the state. Retailers are under pressure to sell, and Selecky said it could be a sign of the economic times.
"All the state funding for the kinds of programs we've had reaching out to youth or going in and doing retailer education has been reduced or is gone," she said.
Obvious health dangers aside, if non compliance reaches 20 percent, the state could lose federal funding for drug and alcohol programs.
Because cigarettes are so expensive, health officials suggest parents pay attention to just how much money their children are spending.
State and local health officials are concerned, and not only for the health risks associated with smoking, but with the financial penalties at stake in the issue.
According to the state, the sale of tobacco to minors is at 10-year high. Currently, 13 percent of Washington State minors smoke cigarettes.
It's a battle Secretary of Heath Mary Selecky continues to fight.
"They're selling tobacco to kids who are underage age 18, and its against the law," Selecky said.
Over the last few years, the state says between 12 and 15 percent of tobacco retailers haven't been doing adequate identification checks.
Even though federal law states businesses must ask to see ID from anyone who appears younger than 27-years old, statistics show that isn't happening.
Officials say the problem rests mainly with mom-and-pop stores across the state. Retailers are under pressure to sell, and Selecky said it could be a sign of the economic times.
"All the state funding for the kinds of programs we've had reaching out to youth or going in and doing retailer education has been reduced or is gone," she said.
Obvious health dangers aside, if non compliance reaches 20 percent, the state could lose federal funding for drug and alcohol programs.
Because cigarettes are so expensive, health officials suggest parents pay attention to just how much money their children are spending.
At least with mj you guaranteed no to get glaucoma.
Criminy...just put them in a closed room and make them smoke a whole carton of cigarettes before they can come out. Give them a drink before hand with a chemical that reacts with nicotine to produce projectile vomiting and diarrhea. Record the whole thing.
After they come out, hose down the room and get it ready for the next idiot.
Or...just have the Air Force bomb the tobacco fields and cigarette plants using drones. It would be good practice for the drone jockeys.
lets make ciggerettes 100 dollars a pack! that will raise lots of money and save more lives as well! a win win!
Since "smoking", a euphenism for tobacco addiction, usually starts in junior high, that where "anti T" needs to start. "Only the stupid start tobacco addiction" should be the theme. Making "TA" look stupid and uncool is the key to wising up kids to "TA". Kissing a smoker is like licking an ashtray will get the message across if it is delivered by Justin Bieber or Miley Cyrus. The posters should be on the restroom ceilings. They can"t miss the message and can't tear it down. Having a laugh at a stupid addict day would help.
What is the financial offset between losing 20% funding and what is brought in from associated taxes?
I honestly didn't think this would happen again. I really, honestly believed that, by now, pretty much everyone knew that you really, REALLY shouldn't smoke. I started smoking at 12 and regret it so much... ugh.
Perhaps parents should be the ones hit in the pocketbook. Or are they no longer responsible since the government is assuming more responsibility?
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@feral Washington was one of the leaders in getting the huge court settlement payoffs from the tobacco companies, but now they can't be bothered to enforce the law.
I'm surprised they buy them at all at $9 a pack with all of the state taxes. Taxes you might think would go towards enforcement, but apparently these bureaucrats had other uses for the revenue.
This is a simple fix. Catch a seller not doing ID checks, padlock his/her store and sell it at auction. End of story. I'm very sure that other store owners will immediately get the message.
Kid caught with smokes: Juvenile hall. Summon the parents. Teen then either tells the source or goes to youth Authority for 5 years at the parents expense. It will only take a few examples and this will fix itself.
@ShallowEnder We should use that for Tri-Met. When a driver misbehaves, shut the whole system down. It'd save everyone a lot of money.
Here we go again. Who's fault is this?
1. The kids are breaking the law first for trying to buy the smokes. Fine them and make an example out of them first.
2. The parents aren't paying attention to their kids if they can't smell smoke on them when they come home. If they can smell smoke on them and do nothing It isn't anyone's fault but the parents.
3. The seller, now this is where it gets tricky. Did the person have a fake ID. Did they have a friend over 18 buy them. If the answer is that the seller knowingly sold them. Then fine them as well.
4. The State: Burning all of those millions of dollars in the general fund generated by the selling of cigarettes in the states general fund, and leaving no money for enforcement. This one folks isn't even negotiable.
@Fuelman76 Every day there are more laws that need enforcement. Every day there are fewer police to enforce these laws. And, it seems like at least, every day there are more people breaking more laws, putting even more strain on the police. So, perhaps there should be a #5 - we the people who want more laws and more government enforcement but don't want to pay taxes for the increased police needed to do the enforcement. (That said, I am one of those who do not relish the thought of more taxes.)
@Nobody @Fuelman76 I don't relish the thought either, but I sure grow weary of (often) conservatives harping about people not being incarcerated long enough, bad schools, bad roads, marginal police protection, blah blah.  They want "less government spending" but want better government-provided services.  You get what you pay for.
Many things in Washington and other states are against the law, even federal law, but nowadays anything goes. Passing new laws, but without money to enforce them, is ridiculous. Unfunded mandates don't serve any purpose except adding another law to the unenforced trashcan! Â
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@Fuct @jpk Nice comment bigot.
@sortbait @Fuct Coming from you, that's truly rich.  Hypocritical (and yet somehow 'christian') comment of the day.
I love everything that costs government money.
In this case it appears that laws are once again failing just like gun laws.
Laws only work if they are enforced. Enforcing laws costs money. If the state doesn't want to spend the money to enforce this law then it makes all laws a joke.
"According to the state, the sale of tobacco to minors is at 10-year high. Currently, 13 percent of Washington State minors smoke cigarettes."
Well, well!! This totally negates Oregon's claim that raising the cigarette tax by $1.00 will curb youth smoking! Washington's tax is $3.00 per pack, that is almost $2.00 higher than Oregon's tax per pack, which is $1.18!
Where have they been blowing all the tax dollars they get from cigarette purchases? They get over $30 on a carton, and that doesn't include the federal tax or sales tax.
And 13%? Is that lower than it was 35 years ago. You know, back before the government made it illegal. Back then, your parents beat your backside if they caught you smoking. I feared my parents more than some stupid can't balance a checkbook politician.
It's pretty easy to find places that sell to minors. Most gas stations do this and some specific ones are well known to sell to minors under the radar. Sometimes you can get them from stores where your friend is working. Hispanics and other poor people who work at gas stations just don't give a rats ass.
@portlandborn83 If they had some chance to be caught by a sting, and were facing a $500 fine (not to the store, to the clerk), they probably would "give a rats ass" after the first time. That's the law in Washington. There's also a store limit to the number of times they can have a violation before losing their license.
They have the enforcement tools, they're just saying that they're not using them.
@portlandborn83Â How on earth did you manage to throw in your hatred of Hispanics and the poor into this story? Â You must lay awake nights consumed with ugly.
@Sundowner Generally speaking, it's true. Many of them just don't care.Â
@Sundowner @portlandborn83 I don't hate hispanics at all. I am just referring to the guys I bought my smokes from when I was 15...
@portlandborn83Â If apologies are in order, then please accept mine. Â It certainly sounded like you were placing the blame for underage kids getting smokes on Hispanics and the poor.
"Obvious health dangers aside, if non compliance reaches 20 percent, the state could lose federal funding for drug and alcohol programs." Â (from the story)
I wish I could believe that their primary concern was in something other than federal funding... sadly, though, nothing but taxpayer money seems to grab their interest...
Seems to me if the govt was a little more consistent  they would be handing out free cigs  just like they  hand out free condoms.Â
its rather odd that the govt on the one hand says there is no way to stop kids having sex, yet on the other hand  they think they can stop kids form smoking.....
@kramr ~  The "rationale" of politicians is fascinating, isn't it..?  Â
I doubt if a lot of the money that is supposed to go to alcohol and drug programs actually ends up there.  Our crooked politicians are famous for telling us one thing and doing another.  The money ends up going to some special interest that has nothing to do with alcohol or drug programs.  The reason that tobacco products haven't been completely banned in this country is because the politicians are getting rich on money paid to them by the tobacco industry.  According to most politicians, something is  bad for you only if they aren't making money off of it.
Liquor, Marijuana, Cigarettes, and Oxycontin/Heroin should be LEGALLY sold in age restricted retail outlets for home use only.
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@TheUglyTruth Do you realize how bad someone else's comment has to be for me to give you a "like"? Â
Just another attempt from government to evoke sympathy for lack of funding issues? Ask your politicians where existing tax money from tobacco went.....
Raise the tax on tobacco to offset the costs. You don't want pay more for tobacco, I don't want to pay more for healthcare.
@Richard Goezinyah Hey genius.... You will pay more for healthcare regardless!
@Funky-Munky @Richard Goezinyah Sure, learn to read. I didn't say I wouldn't pay more, I don't want to pay more. Is that to much to follow? This might require some thought on your end so good luck.Â
@Richard GoezinyahBehavior modification through taxation doesn't work, it just creates an alternate market place to purchase the commodity.Â
I helped a family move last night. They include smokers, and have an indoor dog. Nothing is as revolting to a person with respiratory allergies as hauling couches and belongings that smell like stale smoke and wet dog.Â
The teenager was sitting out on the back porch smoking cigarettes while her boyfriend did all the moving for her. Welcome to the way of the world, young man.
Anyone selling cigarettes to minors should get an automatic 1 year prison sentence.
@Oregon7812 And then sent to the gas chamber???????????? Good god
@Fuelman76 And then ground up with horse meat and sold to Burger king.
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@TheUglyTruth I wish my wife would figure that out.
@TheUglyTruth Wanna share with us how you know what the floor of a taxicab smells like?  I sure don't!
And no teenager is going to see that while still young. When I was a teenager, death was something that MIGHT happen a long time from now, so I smoked.