Ask any smoker when they started and many will tell you they did so as teens. That’s why a group of Verde Valley teens is trying to do something about that.

Members of the Yavapai Anti-Tobacco Coalition of Youth appeared before the Sedona City Council on Tuesday, Feb. 13, to discuss Tobacco 21, an emerging policy to increase the age from 18 to 21 to legally purchase all tobacco products, and to protect youth from early tobacco addiction.

No action was taken by council, however, they did direct staff to draft an ordinance that would address the issue. If council decides to proceed with some type of ordinance, they will have to determine if it relates to just the sale of tobacco or its use and possession as well.

Two years ago the city of Cottonwood enacted an ordinance banning the sale of tobacco products to those under the age of 21. In a letter from Cottonwood Mayor Tim Elinski to Mayor Sandy Moriarty [at a request from YATCY], he encouraged Sedona to follow their lead.

“When our council heard the proposal for such an ordinance, the council was very impressed with the data presented and the quality of the presentation provided by the YATCY members,” Elinski wrote. “We did receive some opposition from some retailers in our community and from a statewide representative for tobacco retailers. However, our city council did support the passage of the ordinance based on the health evidence along with the example of other municipalities and states that enacted such laws.”

Once the Cottonwood ordinance passed, staff ensured that all retailers that sold tobacco were given informational signs explaining the new law. Elinski wrote that the Cottonwood police department has never taken a proactive approach toward enforcement of the ordinance, instead adopting a strategy of only responding to complaints about non-compliant retailers and those who are underage and using.

“Obviously, those tobacco users under 21 years of age who were denied access within the city could simply travel outside the city to make a purchase, so we’ve always been hopeful that other cities and the county adopt this law,” Elinski wrote.

He went on to say that they realize tobacco use of those under 21 will continue. But they felt the ordinance provided the area’s youth with another reason why they should not use tobacco.

Three students from the Cottonwood-based YATCY — Sofia Rocha, Daphne Roeske and Emily Rocha — presented a number statistics to council as they urged them to consider passing an ordinance banning the sale of tobacco in Sedona including the following:

• More than 480,000 people die each year from smoking. 
• Tobacco kills more than alcohol, AIDS, car crashes, illegal drugs and suicides combined.
• More than 2,800 kids nationwide try their first cigarette every day.
• More than 53,000 people die each year from secondhand smoke.
• Only 10 percent of smokers start at age 21 or older.
• Ninety percent of lifetime smokers started before the age of 18.
• Nationwide, smokingrelated illnesses cost more than $300 billion for direct medical care for adults.

They pointed out that five states and 278 cities across the country have upped the legal age to purchase tobacco from 18 to 21. Cottonwood was the first Arizona city to do so. The Clarkdale City Council had discussed an ordinance but voted against it, stating that they wanted to wait on any state legislation.

Sedona City Attorney Robert Pickels said there is no state legislation prohibiting a city from establishing ordinances regarding smoking ages.

So why are teens more inclined to start smoking than those over the age of 21? The three YATCY students said it’s due to peer pressure, as well as the fact that the brain is not fully developed until age 25, including the part that dictates decision making.

According to the group, one of the issues leading to underage smoking is retail compliance. YATCY routinely works with the Arizona Attorney General’s Office to conduct stings on those retailers selling tobacco products to minors, including those under 21 in Cottonwood. They said in March of last year, one of their members was sold tobacco in Sedona at three locations without being asked for proper identification.

“How many more youth are slipping through the cracks and how many more youth are retailers selling to?” Roeske said. “This has to help and we want to help Sedona, and Tobacco 21 is a real answer.”

Ron Eland can be reached at 282-7795 ext. 122 or by email at reland@larsonnewspapers.com