Wisconsin Voters Support New Rules on Tobacco Product Placement and Equal Taxation

A recent poll found strong, bi-partisan, statewide support for proposals to move all
tobacco products behind the counter, close tax loopholes that allow some tobacco products to be
taxed less than others and continue funding the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program to keep
tobacco out of our kids’ hands.

Tobacco is the number one cause of preventable death in Wisconsin and 80 percent of those addicted
to tobacco begin using it before the age of 18. Recently, the tobacco industry has developed more
ways to target youth by disguising their newest products to look and smell like kids favorite candies,
mints and gum. Currently, there is no state law that requires these other tobacco products be sold
behind the counter. Furthermore, these products are cheaper and are taxed less than cigarettes,
making them more appealing and accessible to kids.

In early May, a coalition of public health groups commissioned Public Opinion Strategies to conduct a
poll on tobacco issues. The poll, which surveyed 500 likely Wisconsin voters, found three out of four
respondents were concerned about tobacco use among youth and supported the Joint Finance
Committee’s recent decision to maintain funding for the Tobacco Prevention and Control Program.
In addition, pollsters found nearly eight in ten voters favor a behind-the-counter proposal for candy
flavored tobacco and 71 percent want to close the tobacco tax loophole and tax all tobacco products at
the same rate as cigarettes.

The poll illustrates strong public support for the ongoing efforts of the Tobacco Prevention and
Control program and for legislative action to close tobacco loopholes that target kids and jeopardize
the fiscal and physical health of Wisconsin and its citizens.

To read survey click here.

Yet Another Reason to Support Smoke-Free Air Laws

Secondhand smoke delivers nicotine to the brain. A new study released by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Monday, found there are even more health risks associated with secondhand smoke. The study, published in the Archives of General Psychiatry, discovered that "even limited secondhand smoke exposure delivers enough nicotine to the brain to alter its function," said National Institute on Drug Abuse Director Nora D. Volkow, M.D. in a press release by NIDA. This can also increase vulnerability to nicotine addiction for individuals heavily exposed to secondhand smoke.

This new study is just one more reason to support Wisconsin's smoke-free law, implemented July 2010 to reduce the number of individuals exposed to the known toxins in secondhand smoke. The law has already been shown to improve air quality, improve bartenders health, doesn't hurt businesses and more than 99 percent of Wisconsin workplaces are in compliance.

Wisconsin really is better smoke-free!