Tobacco 21 Resources

1. Tobacco 21 Resources Raise the age. Raise a tobacco-free generation. I civcomweb.com

2. Contents Introduction Strategies for success Tobacco 21 endorsement form Tobacco 21 Q&A Raise the age. Raise a tobacco-free generation.

3. Introduction This toolkit is free for any person or organization interested in raising the tobacco sales age to 21 (a policy referred to as “Tobacco 21”). The toolkit contains 4 files: • Resourcesto help advocates prepare and build community support • A slide set to train advocates and educate policy makers and partners • Handoutsto educate policy makers and partners • Social media images Please adapt this toolkit as needed for your local, state, or national policy change initiative. Note that each file contains some prompts to insert content specific to your geographic area; these prompts are displayed in red font. The toolkit was developed by CivCom, a firm with a commitment to Tobacco 21 and expertise in public health communications. CivCom can assist with planning, training, and customizing the toolkit for your organization. Visit civcomweb.comor drop us a line at info@civcomweb.com. We’d love hear about your experience, and we wish you luck! Raise the age. Raise a tobacco-free generation.

4. Strategies for success Raise the age. Raise a tobacco-free generation.

5. Tobacco 21 endorsement form The addiction, suffering, and loss caused by tobacco is staggering. Tobacco is the single largest cause of preventable death and disease. We can change that. “Tobacco 21” is a policy that: • Makes 21 the minimum legal age of sale for tobacco • Prevents addiction and saves lives • Has been passed in communities throughout the country We believe [Location] deserves a future free from addiction. Count us among the growing number of organizations, businesses, and community members that support making 21 the minimum legal sale age for tobacco products. We grant the[Organization or coalition name] permission to communicate our support for this policy. Organization: Name of authorized representative: Signature: Date: Please return this completed form to: [Name and contact information] Raise the age. Raise a tobacco-free generation.

6. Tobacco 21 Q&A Will raising the tobacco sales age help prevent use of marijuana and other drugs? It’s quite possible. Research suggests co-use of tobacco and marijuana is both common and increasing, and kids addicted to nicotine are 7 times more likely to have a drug use disorder.1The bottom line is that Tobacco 21 helps prevent addiction so kids today can live longer, healthier lives.2 If people can join the military at 18, why shouldn’t they be able to buy tobacco? While tobacco use first starts as a choice, it quickly becomes a deadly addiction—and the probability of addiction is especially high for young people. During the late teens and early 20s, the brain is still developing and is more vulnerable to the effects of nicotine.2Is 18 old enough to enlist in a lifetime of addiction? Should young people be able to buy tobacco before they can purchase alcohol? Establishing 21 as the national sales age for alcohol reduced youth alcohol use and deaths from drunk driving.3We can build on that success and save more lives with Tobacco 21. Will Tobacco 21 impact businesses? Research and experience suggest the impact on businesses is minimal.4 • Only 2% of retail tobacco sales are among 18–20 year olds. • CVS and Target have stopped selling tobacco products, which leaves more tobacco business for other stores. • In 2005, Needham, Massachusetts became the first town in the country to raise the tobacco sales age to 21. Not a single convenience store went out of business. • ID checks by retailers will be easier with an identical sales age for tobacco and alcohol. • Reduced tobacco use may actually benefit businesses who employ smokers. It is estimated that employers incur more than $5,800 in excess costs per year for each employee who smokes. This finding accounts for increased health care costs and lost productivity due to absenteeism, smoking breaks, and symptoms of withdrawal while working. Why should we increase the legal age for tobacco sales and not purchases? Raising the minimum legal age of sale is an effective way to reduce tobacco use. This policy places restrictions on retailers, while avoiding civil or criminal penalties for tobacco users who would be made newly underage and may continue to struggle with nicotine addiction. Sources: 1. Schauer et al., 2015; Berg et al., 2016; The National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, 2015. 2. Institute of Medicine, 2015. 3. DeJong and Blanchette, 2014. 4. Winickoff et al., 2014; Berman et al., 2014. Raise the age. Raise a tobacco-free generation.