Policy development and implementation for Tobacco 21 in a Midwest community

Tobacco 21 is a promising tobacco control policy that is quickly diffusing through American cities as a means of curbing adolescent access and use. Most underage users obtain nicotine products from individuals age 18 to 21. With public health policymakers looking for innovative ways to accomplish the public health priority of reducing initiation by adolescents and young adults, legislation to further raise the sale age is being implemented in many jurisdictions.  Preliminary surveillance data finds the policy dramatically reduces tobacco use by high school students.

The federal minimum sale age for tobacco is 18. Four U.S. states have raised the sale age to 19, and as of January 2015, over 50 municipalities in 7 states had adopted legislation to increase the purchase age to 21, covering over 11.5 million Americans. Missouri has high rates of tobacco use, no statewide smokefree law, and the lowest tobacco tax in the nation. In Columbia, Missouri (population 115,000 plus 35,000 college residents), a coalition of community members worked to achieve the strategic goal of adopting municipal policy to reduce youth smoking and smokeless tobacco use by passing Tobacco 21. The bill’s sponsor and coalition members detail the policy change process used in Columbia, including: agenda setting, policy formation, policy adoption and implementation for Tobacco 21. The session will include strategies for successful coalition building, public outreach and media use, countering opposition arguments and gaining policymaker support, as well as challenges met and lessons learned.