HEALTH

Provo City may raise the legal smoking age if HB 324 doesn’t pass

Mar 8, 2019, 10:39 AM

smoking...

PROVO — The Provo City Municipal Council wants to take the issue of legal smoking age in its own hands.

Currently, House Bill 324 is working its way through the Utah Legislature.  The bill would raise the age for purchasing any tobacco product, including e-cigarettes, from 19 to 21 years of age.

But, if the bill does not pass, the Provo Council approved a measure to raise the legal age within their city limits.  Lehi and Cedar Hills already ban those under 21 from buying tobacco products and Provo would follow suit.

Only one council member, Kay Van Buren, voted against the measure, telling the Provo Herald he doesn’t believe the government should dictate how a person handles their own individual health choices.

smoking

The other five council members issued the following statement:

We, the members of the Provo City Municipal Council, are in support of the measure to increase the minimum age for tobacco purchase proposed in House Bill 324 Second Substitute, and if the Utah State Legislature does not pass this measure, Provo City will consider following Lehi City and Cedar Hills by adopting a city ordinance to that effect. The Provo City Municipal Council supports the Second Substitute because it removes the language preempting relevant local ordinances that was introduced in the First Substitute and urges the Utah State Legislature not to include any such language in the final measure.

The decision to endorse HB 324 was supported by the council, saying $283 billion a year is spent on lost work productivity and on health care for those who smoke.  And one US study claims tobacco use contributes to 500,000 deaths per year; which is higher than opiate overdoses, car crashes and gun violence combined.

 

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Health

Dairy cows across the country, specifically in Texas, Kansas and New Mexico are getting sick with a...

Alexandrea Bonilla

Cows across the country are getting sick with a “flu-like” illness

Utah is altering the requirements for livestock brought into the state after multiple cows across the country have gotten sick with a flu-like illness.  

8 hours ago

Over 30% of people in Utah are considred prediabetic because of the amount of soda they drink....

Amanda Dickson

Is Utah’s soda obsession behind our levels of prediabetes?

Here in Utah, our soda drinking habits might be making us particularly at risk for prediabetes and diabetes.

15 hours ago

A hand holds a tablet stamped with "MF," standing for mifepristone....

CNN

Study shows how self-managed abortion became more common, as Supreme Court abortion drug hearing looms

Medication abortion has become increasingly common since it first became available in the United States two decades ago.

2 days ago

Small screens...

Don Brinkerhoff

Small screens impacting the mental health of kids says study

The increased use of small screens by kids and teens may be linked to increased mental health issues according to a study.

2 days ago

bottles of prescription medication at a desk. 16.2% of Utahns are unable to get the prescription me...

Tammy Kikuchi and Emma Keddington

Utah ranks second in the nation for prescription medication shortages

The hardest prescription medication to get is for ADHD, cancer and high blood pressure.

2 days ago

A syringe inserted into a bottle....

Allessandra Harris

Life expectancy and drug overdose rates rose in 2022

Americans are living an additional 1.1 years on average, according to CDC data. However, there's another metric that has experts concerned, a rise in drug overdose deaths.

2 days ago

Sponsored Articles

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Wellsville Mountains in the spring with a pond in the foreground...

Wasatch Property Management

Advantages of Renting Over Owning a Home

Renting allows you to enjoy luxury amenities and low maintenance without the long-term commitment and responsibilities of owning a home.

Clouds over a red rock vista in Hurricane, Utah...

Wasatch Property Management

Why Southern Utah is a Retirement Paradise

Retirement in southern Utah offers plenty of cultural and recreational opportunities. Find out all that this region has to offer.

Provo City may raise the legal smoking age if HB 324 doesn’t pass