Guam Introduces Bill to Ban Tobacco Sales in Vending Machines
According to Postguam, a recent report reveals that a bill has been proposed in the US territory of Guam. This bill aims to prohibit the sale of tobacco, e-cigarettes, and other nicotine products through vending machines. Additionally, it seeks to allocate extra funds towards programs dedicated to tobacco and nicotine education, prevention, and treatment.
The Bill No. 187-37 will stipulate that selling tobacco, e-cigarette devices, e-cigarette-related products, or nicotine through vending machines will be considered illegal.
According to the epidemiological overview report of Guam state in August 2023, the tobacco consumption in Guam is still higher than that of the United States, regardless of whether it is for adults or teenagers. Despite an overall decrease, Guam still maintains a higher smoking rate compared to other states and regions.
The bill states, "In the past decade, the decline in tobacco and nicotine use in Guam can be attributed to strengthened local policies, enforcement efforts, and increased taxation. Therefore, it is hoped that by prohibiting the sale of tobacco, nicotine, e-cigarettes, and related products through vending machines on Guam, a safe barrier can be created for the island's youth.
Bill No. 186-37 has revised the regulations pertaining to tobacco fees and fines, as well as the provisions regarding the "Youth Tobacco Education and Prevention Fund.
According to current legislation, 30% of fines and fees related to tobacco should be allocated to the Island Sports Fund, while 20% should be designated for the Health and Human Services Fund. The remaining 50% should be allocated to the Youth Tobacco Education and Prevention Fund.
Bill number 186 has made changes to this allocation method, allocating 20% to the "Taxation and Compliance Department's Better Public Services Fund" to assist in enforcing tobacco and nicotine laws and regulations. This also means that fines and fees related to tobacco will no longer be used to fund the "Offshore Sports Fund." Bill number 186 raises the proportion of the "Health and Human Services Fund" to 30%, which will also be used to provide tobacco and nicotine education and prevention services, as well as comprehensive cancer, breast cancer, and cervical cancer care.
Disclaimer:
This article is translated from an original Chinese article available on 2firsts.cn by AI, and has been reviewed and edited by 2FIRSTS's English editorial team. The Chinese original text is the only authoritative source of information. The exclusive copyright and license rights to this article are held by 2FIRSTS Technology Co., Ltd. Any reproduction, reprinting, or redistribution of this article, either in part or in full, requires express written permission from 2FIRSTS and must include clear attribution along with a link to this content. Non-compliance may result in legal action. 2FIRSTS Technology Co., Ltd. reserves the right to pursue legal actions in case of unauthorized use or distribution.
