Harley Stanton Jon Berrick (Yale-NUS College) 8 November 2013 Campbeltown

Hobart, 21 August 2012 : That the Legislative Council calls on the government … to restrict access to tobacco products and reduce smoking and the harmful effects of smoking by - (1) supporting a tobacco-free generation of children born this century in Tasmania; (2) banning flavourings, additives and filter ventilation - including menthol - in tobacco products sold in Tasmania; (3) progressively reducing the availability of tobacco products in Tasmania; and (4) requiring the Education department to …

Strong public support

Declaration: “To advance the world towards realization of our collective vision, we strongly recommend:... Adoption of policies to prohibit the sale of tobacco to all persons born after 2000, to ensure tobacco free millennium generations (as proposed by Tasmania and Singapore).”

Tobacco Control 2010 Phasing-out tobacco: proposal to deny access to tobacco for those born from 2000 Deborah Khoo, Yvonne Chiam, Priscilla Ng, AJ Berrick, HN Koong

Tobacco Control 2013 The tobacco-free generation proposal AJ Berrick

T OBACCO IS A DDICTIVE AND U SE S TARTS M AINLY A MONG C HILDREN “The ability to attract new smokers and develop them into a young adult franchise is key to brand development.” 1999 Philip Morris

Obvious response Legislate under-age laws: No smoking under e.g. age 18 WHO (2004): evidence of effectiveness is limited New York has just raised age of purchase to 21

Why do youths start smoking? Main initiators: Peer influence The desire to appear grown-up

Why do youths start smoking? Initiator Blamed by: My friends smoked 62 % Smoking made me look more cool 26 % Any other < 7 % 2,378 ever-smoker women in Czech Republic, France, Ireland, Italy, Sweden Oh et al. BMC Public Health 2010

Under-age Flaws Rite of passage effect TI: “Kids don’t smoke” Unconvincing message: Okay at 18, but harmful at 17 ??? TI: “It’s a legal product” Tony Blair: “It’s the signals that matter.”

Who are their peers? > 4,000 age 15/16 smokers in Minnesota, USA Among smokers who had ever given tobacco to an underage teen, 86 % gave to a same age friend/acquaintance 37% gave to a younger friend/acquaintance 19% gave to a stranger Forster et al Tobacco Control

Tobacco Control 2010 Phasing-out tobacco: proposal to deny access to tobacco for those born from 2000 Deborah Khoo, Yvonne Chiam, Priscilla Ng, AJ Berrick, HN Koong

How the law works Born last century? Current law applies. Born this century? Tobacco-free forever. From 1/1/ 2018, no new consumers.

Supply Demand TFG

Why it will work Smoking no longer an ‘adults-only’ activity like R-movies or alcohol. Instead, ‘off-limits’ for life (cf. U.S. motorcycle helmets). Knowing that no peers will ever be permitted to be sold tobacco lessens peer pressure to smoke.

Texas underage motorcycle helmet law 1980s: Underage noncompliance =

Texas underage motorcycle helmet law 1980s: Underage noncompliance = 71 %

Texas underage motorcycle helmet law 1980s: Underage noncompliance = 71 % Law made universal: Underage noncompliance =

Texas underage motorcycle helmet law 1980s: Underage noncompliance = 71 % Law made universal: Underage noncompliance = 30 % (calculated from observed overall noncompliance = 7%)

Texas underage motorcycle helmet law 1980s: Underage noncompliance = 71 % Law made universal: Underage noncompliance = 30 % (calculated from observed overall noncompliance = 7%) Tony Blair: “It’s the signals that matter.”

Tasmania

WHO (2004) “The best law is one that so shapes social norms that it becomes self-enforcing.”

Other developments Report from the Children’s Commissioner – surveyed 20 schools Presentation at the Oceania Tobacco Conference – Loren Youl Cancer Council Information - Tobacco Free Generation FAQ’s Meeting with Legislative Council Members

How can you help? 1. ADATB table a motion supporting TFG proposal 2.Request members to advocate in support of TFG to local members of Parliament 3.ADATB members be willing to advocate in their local practice

The tobacco-free generation thanks you for your support.