Minneapolis to Big Tobacco: Enough is enough! Council acts to protect kids from lifetime of addiction to tobacco

ST. PAUL, Minn., Aug. 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation, a coalition of 50 organizations working to prevent youth smoking in our state, thanked the Minneapolis City Council today for restricting the sale of menthol tobacco products to adult-only stores, just like candy- and fruit-flavored tobacco products. Menthol products are popular with young people, but are no less dangerous than other tobacco products. Taking these products out of stores kids frequent will make them far less likely to try them.

The following is a statement from Molly Moilanen, Director of Public Affairs at ClearWay Minnesota, and co-chair of the Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation coalition:

"We applaud Council Members in Minneapolis for taking the bold step today to protect kids from menthol tobacco. Science shows that menthol cigarettes are easier to start and harder to quit. And the tobacco industry has targeted young people and communities of color with these products for decades. Thank you, Minneapolis, for telling Big Tobacco that enough is enough. Predatory targeting of our kids has to stop. This policy is a huge win for health and we hope other cities in Minnesota and across the country follow suit."

Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation is a coalition of Minnesota organizations that share a common goal of saving Minnesota youth from a lifetime of addiction to tobacco. In addition to raising the tobacco sale age to 21, the coalition supports keeping tobacco prices high, limiting access to candy-, fruit- and menthol-flavored tobacco and funding future tobacco control programs. Find out more at www.smokefreegenmn.org.

Partners include: A Healthier Southwest, African American Leadership Forum, Allina Health, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association in Minnesota, Apple Tree Dental, Association for Nonsmokers – Minnesota, Becker County Energize, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, CentraCare Health, Children's Defense Fund-Minnesota, Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, ClearWay Minnesota^SM, Comunidades Latinos Unidas En Servicio – CLUES, Essentia Health, Four Corners Partnership, Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, HealthEast, HealthPartners, Hennepin County Medical Center, Hope Dental Clinic, Indigenous Peoples Task Force, ISAIAH, LAAMPP Institute, Lake Region Healthcare, Lincoln Park Children and Families Collaborative, Local Public Health Association of Minnesota, March of Dimes, Mayo Clinic, Medica, Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians, Minnesota Association of Community Health Centers, Minnesota Cancer Alliance, Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics, Minnesota Council of Health Plans, Minnesota Hospital Association, Minnesota Medical Association, Minnesota Oral Health Coalition, Minnesota Public Health Association, Model Cities of St. Paul, Inc., NAMI Minnesota, North Memorial Health Care, NorthPoint Health and Wellness Center, PartnerSHIP 4 Health, Perham Health, Rainbow Health Initiative, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota, Tobacco Free Alliance, Twin Cities Medical Society and WellShare International.

SOURCE Minnesotans for a Smoke-Free Generation

Related Links

http://www.smokefreegenmn.org