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KILLER DRUG EPIDEMIC! WHERE'S THE CZAR??>>>>

EDITORIAL FROM VINELAND DAILY JOURNAL
We must snuff out illegal tobacco sales

Stiffer penalties for stores selling tobacco products to minors appears to be an easy solution to a
growing problem. A recent study of the smoking habits of children indicates that smoking is on the
rise and that most youths buy their cigarettes in convenience stores. As existing fines apparently are
not enough to force most retailers to take the illegal sale of tobacco products to minors seriously,
perhaps it's time to make them do so. The study, which focused on the smoking habits of 14,532
fourthgraders through 12thgraders in northeastern Pennsylvania, also discloses that half of that
area's high school kids smoke cigarettes and that some began as early as age 5. Dr. Bernard Healy,
the college professor who conducted the study, recommends that states treat the sale and purchase
of cigarettes by minors the same as the purchase of alcohol, making it a criminal offense. Healy's
recommendation appears to be a logical means by which to force retailers to think twice about sales
to underaged consumers. It's likely that a retailer would take illegal sales much more seriously if he
faced closure for breaking the law.

The Vineland (N.J.) Daily Journal, Feb. 24

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