OK Strengthens Laws Against Underage Tobacco Sales

By John Greiner

Senators passed legislation unanimously Wednesday to preserve $7 million in federal funding by strengthening Oklahoma laws prohibiting sale of tobacco products to minors. Senate Bill 1256 by Sen. Ben Robinson now goes to Gov. Brad Henry for his approval. The measure prohibits the use of self-serve tobacco displays often used for smokeless tobacco products.

It also requires stores to place tobacco product vending machines in areas not easily accessible to minors.

Under SB 1256, Oklahomans must ask a clerk for a tobacco product, making it easier for the clerk to check the age of the customer, who must be at least 18 to buy tobacco products.

Current law punishes a clerk who sold to a minor but doesn't punish a store owner, said Terri White, management analyst for the state Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

SB 1256 will hold an owner responsible if a clerk in one of his stores is caught selling to minors three times, she said.

The store owner's license can be suspended if that occurs, she said.

The bill passed the Senate 44-0.

For two of the past three years, Oklahoma has been in danger of losing federal money for being out of compliance with federal regulations designed to limit tobacco sales to minors.

A federal law requires states to have a compliance rate of at least 80 percent regarding laws prohibiting tobacco sales to minors.

States that don't comply can lose up to 40 percent of their federal money for substance abuse prevention programs, said White.

He said statistics indicate that every day, an average of 26 Oklahoma children become regular smokers.

Roughly one in three will die as a direct result of smoking, he said.

"If we can stop our children from starting to smoke, we can save lives. It really is just that simple," Robinson said.