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Introduce, waive the reading, and set May 15, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. as the date and time to consider adoption of an ordinance adding Chapter 7.80 to the Monterey County Code to establish licensing requirements for tobacco retailing within the unincorporated area of Monterey County. (Added via Addendum)
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RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors:
Introduce, waive the reading, and set May 15, 2012 at 10:30 a.m. as the date and time to consider adoption of an ordinance adding Chapter 7.80 to the Monterey County Code to establish licensing requirements for tobacco retailing within the unincorporated area of Monterey County.
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
On January 20, 2012, the Health and Human Services Committee recommended that the draft Tobacco Retailer License (TRL) ordinance be submitted to the Board of Supervisors. The purpose of the TRL ordinance is to reduce illegal sales of tobacco products to minors. Compliance checks conducted by the California Department of Public Health, Food and Drug Branch, Stop Tobacco Access to Kids Enforcement (STAKE) Act Enforcement Unit show that from 2000 to 2010, retailers in Monterey County illegally sold tobacco products to underage youth 33% of the time. In 2010, the illegal tobacco sales rate to youth was 48% in Monterey County. These figures are similar to results from recent Youth Tobacco Purchase Surveys (YTPS) conducted in Monterey County by the Tobacco Control Program, Sunrise House, Safe Teen Empowerment Project, and Sun Street Centers, Inc.
According to The Center for Tobacco Policy and Organizing, results from studies overwhelmingly demonstrate that local TRL ordinances with strong enforcement provisions are effective. Rates of illegal tobacco sales to minors have decreased, in almost every California community that has passed a strong TRL ordinance. Currently, over 80 communities throughout the State have passed similar TRL ordinances.
The American Lung Association states that a strong ...
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