KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - Nine times out of ten, teenagers cannot buy cigarrettes or tobacco in King County, according to a recent survey by Public Health - Seattle & King County. In 1999, the tobacco prevention program of Public Health - Seattle and King County visited 2,052 retailers and, of those, only 10% sold tobacco products to minors. Last year's 90% compliance rate marks the third consecutive year that King County retailers have topped 90%. Currently Public Health - Seattle and King County has the nation's largest Tobacco Compliance Check Program.
In addition, King County teens only report self-purchasing of tobacco at 22%, which has dropped from the 26% reported locally in 1996, and is much lower than the national average of 75%, according to the nation's largest teen smoker survey.
"We are very serious about preventing minors from obtaining tobacco", said Dr. Alonzo Plough , Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "If we can keep our children from tobacco addiction before the age of eighteen, they will likely never start using it".
In fact, 80% of adult smokers begin smoking before age 18 years. Moreover, greater than half the teens who use tobacco begin doing so before entering the eighth grade.
"Nicotine is highly addictive -- more addictive than heroin -- and hooks young people quickly and intensely", added Plough. "There are very few health issues more important than teenage tobacco use".
A violation for selling tobacco products to a minor has financial consequences for retailers. For the first offense, clerks are fined $50.00 and the retailer $100.00. Repeat offenders can expect a fine up to $1,000 and/or a suspension of their cigarette license.
The Tobacco Prevention Program urges any citizen who witnesses a retailer selling tobacco products to a minor to contact their regional Liquor Control Board and file a complaint.
Additional tobacco information is available online at www.kingcounty.gov/health/tobacco
