Legislative effort underway to combat teen tobacco addiction

UPPER MICHIGAN (WLUC) - According to the American Lung Association, more than 400 minors will become new or regular daily smokers this year and nearly half of them will ultimately die from their habits.

NICE Community School District Superintendent Bryan DeAugustine says tobacco use among students is something he worries about.

“It’s just kind of a constant battle between the pressure that the kids face to do those sorts of things and make sure that they don’t get addicted and waste their money on something that’s horrible for them,” DeAugustine said.

A bill package designed to put pressure on companies to stop advertising tobacco products to kids was introduced in the state house Tuesday.

The Protect MI Kids package sponsor, Rep. Stephanie Young (D-16th State House District) says she wants to stop criminalizing kids who buy tobacco illegally and instead use it to educate them and get them on the right path.

“When you see children who will grow up in a household seeing their parents smoke or even an adult sibling smoke, of course you think there can’t be anything wrong with this,” Rep. Young said.

Right now, you don’t need a license in Michigan to sell tobacco. One bill in the package would require the store owners to get a Tobacco retail licenser program.

Midwest Independent Retailers Association Vice President Gerald Griffin says he doesn’t agree that this will stop kids from getting their hands on tobacco.

“We are not in the business of selling tobacco to kids,” Griffin said. “But there are people out there who are in that business and those people aren’t going to get a license anyway. They’re still going to find a way to do that. It just won’t be in a store.”

DeAugustine says he is glad the state is taking an interest in our kids.

“The idea that politicians are listening and trying to help us get a handle on this so that the companies don’t continue to prey on our kids,” DeAugustine said. “It’s hopeful and I really hope that we get out in front of it.”

The meeting was adjourned and the issue will be revisited in the next few weeks.