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Amending Chapter 9-600 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Service and Other Businesses," to add a new Section 9-637, entitled "Sale of Flavored Tobacco Products," prohibiting offering for sale and selling certain tobacco products other than cigarettes with characterizing flavors and fixing penalties; all under certain terms and conditions.
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WHEREAS, Tobacco use kills more than 3,500 Philadelphians each year and the average smoker loses 10 years of life as a result of tobacco use; and
WHEREAS, The health and economic burdens of tobacco use disproportionately fall on low-income Philadelphians, reflected in a 60% higher smoking prevalence for Philadelphians living in poverty compared to Philadelphians not living in poverty; and
WHEREAS, Characterizing flavors in tobacco products can increase the likelihood of tobacco use initiation and long-term addiction, are associated with fewer attempts to quit smoking as an adult, and can decrease the likelihood of successfully quitting; and
WHEREAS, 90% of current adult smokers started smoking by age 18 and 70% of teenagers who use tobacco in Philadelphia report using flavored tobacco; and
WHEREAS, Cigar use among black youth in Philadelphia doubled from 2011 to 2013 and has continued to rise since, driven by the wide availability of inexpensive, flavored cigars and the fact that stores in predominantly black neighborhoods are 74% more likely to display tobacco advertisements near children's products; and
WHEREAS, National and local data show that, while federal, state, and local laws prohibit the sale of tobacco products to minors, many young people are able to access tobacco products without directly purchasing them, so that complementary efforts to reduce the overall availability of flavored tobacco products in Philadelphia are needed; now, therefore
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SE...
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