News and Events
Arcadia City Council Passes Resolution Encouraging Restrictions on the Sale of Flavored Tobacco Products
On May 21, 2013 the Arcadia City Council passed a resolution opposing the sale of flavored tobacco within the city limits of Arcadia. Passage of the resolution came after an amazing presentation by Dr. Kirk Voelker, the Tobacco Free Partnership of DeSoto County, and youth from DeSoto County’s Students Working Against Tobacco. The SWAT youth were the driving force at the City Council meeting. High school students Joedy Rios and Ernesto Montalvo shared their message, “Tobacco targets me". With the help from two mini-SWAT members, elementary school students Julian Cendejas and Dylan Mendoza, this message resonated with the Council members.
The resolution is symbolic gesture to help educate and call attention to the issue, hopefully prompting stronger action at the state and national level.
As part of the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, the United States Congress banned flavored cigarettes. The law also granted the Food and Drug Administration authority to regulate other tobacco products, and granted states and local governments the right to regulate the time, place, and manner of all tobacco products. In Florida, numerous Municipalities and Counties across the State have adopted Flavored Tobacco Resolutions urging Tobacco Retailers to stop the sale and marketing of Flavored Tobacco Products in their areas. At last count, 145 Municipalities and 50 Counties had adopted similar resolutions
A similar resolution went before the City Council in 2011 but it did not pass, with some Council members claiming that it imposed on the rights of business owners. This time, however, all members voted unanimously to pass the resolution without any arguments or hesitation.
The DeSoto Board of County Commissioners had already passed a flavored tobacco resolution in 2011.
This is an important issue, as flavored tobacco products are preferentially used by underage minors. In Florida, half of all youth age 12-17 that use tobacco use flavored tobacco. By comparison, just 18.5% of young adults age 18-24 choose to use flavored tobacco.