SURVEY SHOWS FEWER STORES SELLING TOBACCO TO MINORS

HONOLULU - This year’s survey by the Hawai‘i State Department of Health’s Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division (ADAD) shows that illegal sales of tobacco to minors in Hawai‘i have decreased from 11.2 percent in 2008 to 6.2 percent in 2009. At the current rate, Hawai‘i is below the national average of 9.9 percent. The 14th annual survey was conducted by a joint program with the University of Hawai‘i’s Cancer Research Center of Hawai‘i and ADAD. The program conducts inspections of retail outlets that sell tobacco to determine the extent of illegal sales of tobacco products to minors.

“The low sales rates represent a successful effort in establishing a community norm where businesses are aware that they should not sell tobacco to minors,” said Lt. Governor James R. “Duke” Aiona, Jr. “This year’s results are a testament to the good corporate citizenship of the majority of retail tobacco merchants in Hawai‘i; however, we must remain vigilant”

Of the four counties included in the 2009 statewide survey, the County of Maui and the County of Hawai‘i had the lowest rate at 2.1 percent, and the County of Kauai had the highest rate with 10.5 percent. Within Honolulu County, the area with the lowest rate was Downtown Honolulu (4.7 percent) and the highest was the Windward region (12.5 percent).  The County of Kauai increased from 0 to 10.5 percent non-compliance, but the rate is based on fewer than 20 inspections, which resulted in large fluctuations for their estimates. Notably, the County of Maui has kept their non-compliance rate under 8 percent for the past eight years, with an average of 3.7 percent. 
“More than 80 percent of all adult smokers started before the age of 18, so it’s important that we work together as a community to educate our youth about the dangers of tobacco use before they begin smoking,” said Health Director Chiyome Fukino, M.D.

Retailers and clerks can help keep tobacco out of the hands of minors by asking for identification and age. However, of the 22 stores that sold tobacco illegally to a minor, five (22.7 percent) asked for ID and chose to sell tobacco to a youth who did not produce identification.  Retailers can also reduce youth access by placing cigarettes in a place where customers have to ask for them.

In Hawai‘i, over 1,100 people die each year due to smoking-related illnesses. Hawai‘i spends approximately $336 million annually on medical costs relating to tobacco illnesses and $308 million annually in lost productivity from people who have suffered from a tobacco-related illness.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently restricted tobacco companies from selling flavored cigarettes (excluding menthol) that have been shown to be particularly attractive to youth.

However, the tobacco industry has come out with a variety of new nicotine products, from “snus” (small pouches that are placed in the mouth where the user does not spit) to nicotine water in an effort to counter declines in the youth market. According to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, the tobacco industry spends approximately $42 million annually on advertising and promoting tobacco products in Hawai‘i alone.

“Cigarette smoking is the number one preventable cause of death in the United States,” added Dr. Fukino. “Hawai‘i needs to maintain an active and vigilant effort in the area of youth access to limit the use of tobacco products.”

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For further information contact:
 
Keith Yamamoto, Chief
Alcohol and Drug Abuse Division
Phone: (808) 692-7506
   
Janice Okubo
Communications Office
Phone: (808) 586-4442