Keep Kids Safe: Prohibit Tobacco Retailers Near Fresno County Schools

Nicotine is poison for a young person’s brain

• It changes the way connections form in the brain and can interfere with attention and learning.

• It can increase anxiety, mood swings, and irritability.

• Many tobacco companies use a highly concentrated form of nicotine called nicotine salts for vaping devices.

• These nicotine salts allow higher concentrations to be inhaled and absorbed more quickly than regular nicotine.

• Vaping has replaced smoking for young people in Fresno County. A 2019-2020 survey of Fresno County 10th and 12th graders found that 22% had ever used a vape device.

• These vape devices come in many different flavors that are appealing to youth.

Flavors Hook Kids

• There are currently over 15,500 flavors of tobacco products on the market.

• These flavors range from Horchata to Dragons Breath. Tobacco companies use these flavors to spark curiosity and mask the harsh taste of tobacco.

• The flavors make it easier for youth to start vaping and then nicotine gets them addicted.

• 90% of surveyed current 10th and 12th tobacco users in Fresno County use flavored tobacco.

• For these reasons, it is dangerous for youth to use these tobacco products.

Image of a vape pen with a bubble gum bubble blown at it's tip

Youth Access to Tobacco Products

While it is illegal to sell tobacco products to people under 21, these products still end up in the hands of young people. Fresno County youth can obtain these products online, from someone they know, or from local stores. A 2019-2020 survey of 10th and 12th graders in Fresno County showed that 2 out of 6 youth report purchasing their products from a local store.

Price Matters

The United States Surgeon General states that raising the price of tobacco products can stop people from trying tobacco products, decrease use of tobacco products, and encourage people to quit tobacco use. Currently, state law requires that cigarettes be sold in packs of 20. However, there are no laws that restrict pack sizes for cigars or cigarillos which allow tobacco companies to sell these products at very low prices such as 99 cents. Increasing the required pack size to sell will increase the overall price of the product.

In addition, tobacco companies encourage promotions to further reduce the cost of tobacco products. Many tobacco retailers may offer a buy two for 99 cents promotion for cigarillos or offer discounted vape devices.

These tactics make tobacco products easier to access by price sensitive shoppers such as youth.

Over half of Fresno County students live near a tobacco retailer.

With government restrictions on where tobacco companies can advertise their products in the United States, the tobacco industry now dedicates most of its $9 billion advertising budget to retail stores.

The more tobacco retailers youth are exposed to, the more likely students will try vaping or smoking. Research shows that tobacco marketing and advertisements makes youth 60% more likely to try tobacco products. It is more powerful than peer pressure.

More tobacco retailers are in low-income neighborhoods.

Tobacco products are more accessible in low-income areas and communities of color. These neighborhoods often have tobacco retailers clustered together.

Also, there are more tobacco advertisements at stores in these neighborhoods and tobacco products are often sold at lower prices. When there are more retailers in a neighborhood, it becomes harder to quit smoking because of the constant exposure to products.

There are ways to reduce youth access to tobacco

Changing the environment where youth live and are exposed to will help reduce youth tobacco use. These are different strategies to keep tobacco out of reach for youth.

Stores that sell tobacco buy a local tobacco license each year.

The fees from the program fund law enforcement to ensure tobacco retailers do not sell to minors.

These programs have reduced illegal tobacco sales to youth throughout the state of California. There are over 120 communities in California that have a TRL.

Tobacco Retail License (TRL)

Restricting the sale of flavored tobacco at local stores will make the available tobacco products in the community less appealing for youth.
There are currently over 100 communities in California who have restricted the sale of flavored tobacco.

Flavored Tobacco Restriction

Stores that sell tobacco will not be allowed to offer promotions or discounts on any of their tobacco products.

Restrict Promotions and Discounts

Jurisdictions are allowed to set controls on the price of tobacco sold.

Setting a minimum price for certain tobacco products will require retailers to sell those products at that minimum price or above.

Setting a minimum pack size will require retailers to sell cigarettes, cigarillos, cigars, and other tobacco products at a specific pack size.

Setting a Minimum Pack/Price

Proximity refers to how close a building is to another. This is a requirement for stores that sell tobacco to be a certain number of feet away from schools, youth sensitive areas, or other tobacco retailers.

This can be controlled through conditional use permits or tobacco retail licenses.

Proximity

Density refers to how many retailers there are in an area. This puts a maximum cap on how many retailers are allowed to open up within a specific area or district.

This can be controlled through conditional use permits or tobacco retail licenses.

Density

Become a part of the movement

What do you think is the right solution to reduce youth access to tobacco products? Speak up and stand up for our community!

Find Your District Representative

How You Can Help

Check out our Resources to learn more about how to limit youth access to tobacco products. We’re happy to help you start this process.