HomeMy WebLinkAboutres2016-041WHATCOM COUNTY COUNCIL AGENDA BILL NO.
2016 - 348
CLEARANCES
Initial
Date
Date Received in Council Qff ce
Agenda Date
Assigned to:
Originator.'
11/1/2016
11/1/2016
Board of Health
Division Head:
Dept. Head.
Prosecutor-
Purchasing/Budget:
Executive:
TITLE OF DOCUMENT.
Res Support Raising Legal Sales Age for Tobacco & Vapor Products from 18 to 21
ATTACHMENTS:
4
SEPA review required? ( ) Yes ( ) NO
Should Clerk schedule a hearing ? ( ) Yes ( ) NO
SEPA review completed? ( ) Yes ( ) NO
Requested Date:
SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: (If this item is an ordinance or requires a public
hearing, you must provide the language for use in the required public notice. Be specific and cite RCW or WCC as appropriate.
Be clear in explaining the intent of the action.)
Whatcom County Health Board resolution supporting raising the legal sales age for tobacco and vapor products from 18 to 21.
COMMITTEE ACTION. COUNCIL ACTION.•
11/1/2016: Approved 7 -0, Res. 2016 -041
Related County Contract #:
Related File Numbers:
Ordinance or Resolution
Number: Res. 2016 -041
Please Note: Once adopted and signed, ordinances and resolutions are available for viewing and printing
on the County's website at: www.co.whatcom.wa.us /council.
PROPOSED BY: Health Department
INTRODUCTION DATE:
RESOLUTION NO.
2016 -041
WHATCOM COUNTY HEALTH BOARD RESOLUTION SUPPORTING RAISING THE
LEGAL SALES AGE FOR TOBACCO & VAPOR PRODUCTS FROM 18 TO 21
WHEREAS tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death in the United
States, killing more than 8300 Washingtonians each year —more than alcohol, AIDS, car
crashes, illegal drugs, murders, and suicides combined —and causing cancer, heart
disease, and respiratory diseases, among other health disorders, that add an estimated
$2.81 billion in annual health care costs in Washington alone;
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WHEREAS, in 2014, the number of Washington 10 graders using either
cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, or electronic cigarettes was 20 out of 100;
WHEREAS in 2015 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) concluded that raising the legal sales
age for tobacco products to 21 would reduce tobacco initiation among youth, especially
those aged 15 -17, improve health across the lifespan, and save lives;
WHEREAS, the IOM projected that if the legal sales age for tobacco products were raised
to 21 nationwide, there would be approximately 223,000 fewer premature deaths, 50,000
fewer deaths from lung cancer, and 4.2 million fewer years of life lost for persons born in
the US between 2000 and 2019, and result in near - immediate reductions in preterm
births, low birth weight babies, and sudden infant death syndrome;
WHEREAS raising the legal sales age for alcohol to 21 is associated with reduced alcohol
use and dependence among persons under 21;
WHEREAS raising the legal sales age for tobacco from 18 to 21 will help lead to less
smoking and tobacco use among Washington teens aged 12 -17, sparing these young
people from the ravages that develop over time from harmful and highly addictive
tobacco products;
WHEREAS legislation to raise the legal sales age for tobacco and vapor products from 18
to 21 has been introduced in the Washington State Legislature but has not yet been
enacted;
WHEREAS the Whatcom County Health Board wants to protect the young people of our
county from the ravages of tobacco and nicotine addiction;
THEREFORE the Whatcom County Health Board calls upon the Washington State
Legislature, and the senators and representatives who represent the people of
Whatcom County, to pass legislation raising the legal sales age for tobacco and vapor
products from 18 to 21.
RESOLVED this 1st day of November
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ATTEST:` T c:' ` •[1 �'f
Dana Brown=Davis, Cler ' oft e Council
APPROVED ASJO FORM:
Civil Deputy Peosdctrtor
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WHATCOM COUNTY HEALTH BOARD
WHATCOM COUNTY, WASHINGTON
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airy uchanan, Health Board Chair
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