If the results of a new survey by the state Department of Alcohol Beverage Control is accurate, it is getting increasingly difficult for youths to buy cigarettes and other tobacco products in Kentucky.
The survey found that 96.5 percent of Kentucky retailers comply with the state law by refusing to sell tobacco to anyone under the age of 18. That’s a dramatic improvement over a decade ago when 20 percent of tobacco retailers — or one in five — ignored the state law by selling cigarettes to youths.
Beyond providing evidence that most retailers are complying with the law, we hope the improved rate of compliance is an indication that fewer youths are even trying to buy cigarettes and are opting instead to not smoke.
In addition to producing some much needed revenue, one of the strongest arguments for the Kentucky General Assembly doubling that state tax or cigarettes from 30 cents a pack to 60 cents is that it would discourage smoking, particularly among youth. Organizations like the American Cancer Society and the American Lung Association produced convincing evidence that cigarette tax increases in other states had dramatically reduced the rate of teen smoking.
A higher percentage of teens in Kentucky smoke than in the vast majority of other states. In fact, when Kentucky led the nation in youth smoking just a few years ago, a higher percentage of young Kentuckians reported smoking than adults in the state, despite the fact that Kentucky also led the nation in the percentage of adult smokers.
One hopes that the 96.5 percent compliance rate reported by the state ABC is not only an indication that most retailers are now taking the law against tobacco sales to youths seriously, but also a sign that smoking no longer is considered “cool” among teens. Whether it is because they no longer can afford to smoke because of the higher taxes or because overwhelming evidence about the harmful affects of smoking is finally sinking in, Kentucky will benefit greatly if fewer teens — and adults — smoke.
