Prohibits the sale of flavored smokeless tobacco within five hundred feet of a public or private elementary or secondary school

• Democratic12

◆ The sponsor's argument

Why Joseph P. Addabbo Jr. says this is needed

Although cigarette smoking has continued to decline among youth, the use of smokeless tobacco products has failed to decrease at a similar rate. The National Youth Tobacco Survey found that 5.9 percent of all high school students currently use smokeless tobacco products. Smokeless tobacco use poses significant health risks and can cause cancer, dental disease, precancerous mouth lesions, heart disease, and increased risk of stillbirths. Since smokeless tobacco contains nicotine, individuals can become easily addicted. Once addicted, users may turn to combustible tobacco products or electronic cigarettes. Flavored tobacco products are specifically created to entice younger users. Tobacco companies even go so far as to use the same flavoring chemicals and makeup contained in popular kid's candy brands to entice youth to use their products. Reports have also shown that tobacco compa- nies target stores near schools to attract young smokers.* By marketing these products to a younger generation, the tobacco industry hopes to create long-term users. New York has already taken steps to address flavored tobacco products by banning flavored e-cigarettes, but we need to do more. Therefore, this legislation would prohibit the sale of smokeless flavored tobacco products within 500 feet of public and private schools. Other localities in New York, California, and the city of Chicago have already enacted similar prohibitions. Limiting the sale of flavored smokeless tobacco near schools will limit the opportunity for youth to purchase these products. This restriction will also benefit our communities, by reduc- ing the retail density of flavored tobacco products in neighborhoods surrounding schools. * See U.S. Dep't of Health & Human Servs, Prevent- ing Tobacco Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General 545 (2012); see https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/assets/factsheets/0008.pdf

This is the sponsor's own case for the bill, quoted from their memorandum. It is not Agora's description of what the bill does.