California Cracks Down on Teen Smoking

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- California officials have launched a campaign to beef up fines for retailers who sell cigarettes to teens, implement new tobacco licensing requirements and discourage retailers from selling cigarettes to minors, reported the Sacramento Bee.

"If we care about children, we care about their well-being, and we care about their futures, then we have to redouble our efforts," said Kimberly Belshé, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency.

A 2003 statewide survey found that 12.2 percent of retailers sold cigarettes to children, down from 19.3 percent one year ago. The data is collected with the help of youth decoys who try to buy cigarettes, according to the news source.

"It was actually shocking to see how easy it was," said Talaina Floyd, one of two former decoys at the Thursday press conference. Nine of the 27 Sacramento-area retailers she tested sold her cigarettes.

A key component of the effort is proposed legislation by Assemblywoman Lynn Daucher (R-Brea), who said increasing the penalty for those selling cigarettes to minors will encourage retailers to play by the rules.

Her administration-backed bill would in many cases double the first-and second-offense fines paid by retailers caught selling cigarettes to minors, according to the Bee.

The bill would also dramatically increase the fines for businesses that don't post anti-smoking materials designed for teens.