City commissioners adopt amendments
Ordinances reaffirming restrictions of youth access to tobacco and alcohol were passed Monday night by Sallisaw City Commissioners at their monthly meeting.
Limiting youth access to tobacco, alcohol
Ordinances reaffirming restrictions of youth access to tobacco and alcohol were passed Monday night by Sallisaw City Commissioners at their monthly meeting.
The amendments to the city’s code of ordinances became effective upon their adoption by the commissioners because the legislation was declared an emergency, and established and provided regulations for the amendments.
The commissioners amended and adopted new sections of the Prevention of Youth Access to Tobacco Act as well as the Prevention of Youth Access to Alcoholic Beverages and Low-Point Beer Act from the Oklahoma Statutes. In addition, the changes to the ordinances strengthen the city’s position when applying for Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) grants. City staff worked with TSET on the needed changes prior to presenting them to the commissioners.
In an email to George Bormann, director of grants and economic development for the city, from TSET Health Living Program coordinator Jayna Tillman, she cited the significance of the youth enabling ordinances. Tillman said nine of 10 adults who smoke cigarettes daily began smoking before the age of 18-years-old. Almost a third of Oklahoma high school students report using tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, and an additional 9% of high school students reported being current smokers.
“The federal T-21 law, which became effective on Dec. 20, 2019, allows cities, counties or states to adopt and enforce their laws to prevent the sale of tobacco products to buyers under the age of 21. Compliance with this law is vital for states to receive specific federal funding. Passing this local ordinance will help to improve the effectiveness of the law,” Tillman wrote on Feb. 9.
“I’ve conducted a total of 29 tobacco retailer education visits throughout Sequoyah County within the past six months. Tobacco retailer education visits include the use of an underage buyer who requests a tobacco product. Prior to conducting these visits, the underage buyer undergoes an age perception test to ensure the average person perceives his/her age to be between 16 and 20 (both of my buyers had an average perceived age of 16). After the sale attempt, I introduce myself to the clerk, explain the purpose of the visit, and provide a packet of tobacco retailer educational materials.
“While none of the tobacco retailers we visited attempted to complete the sale, I observed a trend in retailers who simply ask the buyer for his/her age or date of birth. Our underage buyers are trained to answer the clerk honestly as we are not trying to trick or mislead, simply to educate. I’m confident many clerks would have completed the sale had the buyers responded they were over 21 (a few clerks had the cigarettes already in hand and had already rang up the purchase). We can do a whole lot better to restrict youth access to tobacco,” Tillman wrote.
Tillman did not provide specific information related to youth alcohol use and recommended limitations, but said Monday that consequences related to tobacco use and alcohol use by youth are similar, and parallels can be drawn.
In addition to strengthening Sallisaw’s stance on youth access to tobacco, Tillman said passing the ordinances allows local law enforcement to enforce state law. Tobacco retailers that violate the ordinance during tobacco compliance checks can be issued a citation by law enforcement. When a citation is issued by law enforcement, the fine revenue stays in Sallisaw. Further, if the Oklahoma ABLE Commission writes the citation, Sallisaw will receive a portion of the fine.
