HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES NO 128-98RESOLUTION NO. I 28- 9 8
A RESOLUTION ENCOURAGING MERCHANTS TO
REGULATE THE MANNER OF SALE OF TOBACCO
PRODUCTS.
WHEREAS, the Surgeon General of the United States labels smoking "the largest
single preventable cause of premature death and disability for the U.S. population"; and
WHEREAS, the National Centers for Disease Control have found that at least
434,000 Americans die each year from tobacco-caused diseases; and
WHEREAS, the Surgeon General of the United States and the United States
Department of Health and Human Services have found that a majority of those Americans
who die of tobacco-caused diseases become addicted to nicotine and tobacco products
as adolescents before the age of legal consent; and
WHEREAS, the National Institute on Drug Abuse has concluded that the nicotine
in tobacco products is a powerful addictive drug and identifies nicotine addiction as the
most wide-spread example of drug dependence in the United States; and
WHEREAS, the Surgeon General of the United States has found that nicotine and
tobacco products are as addictive as cocaine and heroin; and
WHEREAS, a state-wide survey conducted in 1997 found that nearly 22% of
tobacco retailers in California were willing to illegally sale tobacco to minors and that even
those conscientious merchants will not sale to minors may inadvertently contribute to the
problem by placing their products in open racks or shelves where they could easily be
shoplifted; and
WHEREAS, City Council recognizes and supports the efforts of the Tobacco-Free
Coalition of Kern County and its efforts to reduce tobacco use and tobacco-related disease
on the youth within our community;
WHEREAS, in an effort to support the goals of the Tobacco-Free Coalition of Kern
County, the City Council supports a ban of self-service tobacco displays and a requirement
that requires tobacco products be placed behind a counter or in a locked case to require
vendor assistance sales in an effort to prevent tobacco shoplifting from minors, discourage
younger adolescents from attempting to purchase tobacco, and promote identification
checking by store clerks.
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NOW,
as follows:
1.
2.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of Bakersfield
The above recitals and findings are true and correct.
That the City Council of the City of Bakersfield encourages all business
owners and merchants within the City to voluntarily ban displays for sale of
any tobacco product or tobacco promotional product by means of self-
service merchandising or by means of other than vendor/assistance sales.
That the City Council of the City of Bakersfield encourages all business
owners and merchants within the City to voluntarily ban the installation or
keeping or use or maintenance of any vending machine for the purpose of
selling or distributing any tobacco products.
That the City Council of the City of Bakersfield encourages all business
owners and merchants within the City to reduce the acceptability and
expectation of tobacco use among youth and to discourage the making of
tobacco products appealing and attractive to youth.
.......... ooo00ooo ..........
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I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Resolution was passedn,~'~.d
Council of the City of Bakersfield at a regular meeting thereof held on
following vote:
, by the
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTAIN:
ABSENT:
COUNCILMEMBER CARSON, DEMOND, SMITH, MCDERMOTT, f~, SULLIVAN SALVAGGIO
COUNCILMEMBER ,~/)/,d ~-
COUNCILMEMBER
COUNCILMEMBER
CITY CLERK and Ex Officio Clerk~of the
Council of the City of Bakersfield
APPROVED OC'~ O '/ ~
MAYOR of Bakersfield
APPROVED as to form:
ROBERT M. SHER~"Y
Chief Assistant C!~ty Attorney
VIRGINIA GENNARO
Deputy City Attorney
VG:cj
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