CINCINNATI, Ohio (Dec. 12, 2018) – Today, the Cincinnati city council voted five to three to raise the minimum age of tobacco sales to 21 years old. In response, Andrea Britcher, Ohio grassroots manager for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, issued the following statement:
“The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network celebrates the action councilmembers took today.
“Tobacco 21 is the next step toward reducing the harm tobacco companies inflict on our communities when they target young people. With the new tobacco 21 ordinance, Cincinnati will help reduce tobacco use by high schoolers who often get these deadly products from their 18 year-old friends and become addicted before they have a chance to grow up.
“We congratulate the city council for taking this important step to protect Cincinnati kids from becoming the next generation addicted to tobacco.”
Cincinnati is the 16th community in Ohio to pass a tobacco 21 ordinance. Others include Columbus, Cleveland and Akron.
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.
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