ACS CAN Says Proposed Legislation Threatens the Health of Philadelphians

PHILADELPHIA, PA - Nov. 29, 2018 - The Philadelphia City Council is holding a hearing on December 5, 2018 on a bill (180522) that would roll back existing regulations and allow new retailers to obtain tobacco sales permits in neighborhoods with very high densities of existing retailers or near schools.  The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN) opposes this bill.

Diane Phillips, ACS CAN  Pennsylvania government relations director, released this statement:

“This bill is a step backwards for public health in Philadelphia.  Smoking remains the leading cause of death in Philadelphia. Over 3,500 Philadelphians are killed each year by tobacco products, making tobacco the top cause of preventable death in our city. Smoking rates in Philadelphia are highest among the ten largest U.S. cities and are highest in low-income neighborhoods. 

“Preventing tobacco use by children is one of the best strategies to promote health in our communities.  Tobacco products contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance.  The clear majority of today’s adults who smoke -- 90 percent -- began smoking before the age of 19.

“This has long been a strategy of Big Tobacco.  If you can get a young person to begin using tobacco at an early age, you may have a consumer for life.  Never mind the risk to that life -- a risk of developing cancer, heart disease, asthma and other lung ailments.

“Alarmingly, total tobacco use (including electronic cigarettes) is 27.6 percent among youth in Philadelphia.

“According to the City Department of Public Health, Philadelphia has more than twice as many retailers per capita as other major US cities.  As of June 2016, Philadelphia had 2.21 tobacco retailers per 1000 residents compared to an estimated 1.20 in Washington, DC, 1.15 – 1.27 in Los Angeles, 1.15 in New York City, 1.05 in San Francisco, and 0.92 in Chicago.

“The Department also notes that tobacco retailers are heavily concentrated in low-income neighborhoods.  Philadelphia’s low-income neighborhoods have 69 percent more tobacco retailers overall, and 63 percent more tobacco retailers within 500 feet of schools, than high-income neighborhoods.  Some low-income neighborhoods have three times as many tobacco retailers per capita as some high-income neighborhoods.

“The current regulations do not affect existing retailers.  Those already in business can retain their permits if they renew them annually and avoid selling to children.

“To promote public health in our communities and to safeguard the youth in our city we strongly oppose Bill No. 180522.”

About ACS CAN
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org