Congress Gives Government the Green Light to Regulate Tobacco
Jun 15th, 2009 • Posted in: NewsNew law will require bigger warnings and curb advertising that glorifies the habit
WASHINGTON
Congress last week passed legislation that allows the U.S. government to regulate tobacco. President Obama, promising a quick signature, said the measure counteracts years of indifference to a product that is known to be addictive and harmful, reports CBS News.
Obama has acknowledged that he personally has had difficulty quitting smoking, notes a report from CNN.
The main provisions of the measure will force tobacco companies to post bigger health warnings on cigarette packaging, ban flavored cigarettes, and restrain advertising that glorifies smoking, reports the London-based Independent, which notes that two major British tobacco companies serving the United States also will be affected.
The measure was lauded by a variety of public-health agencies. Opposition was largely muted, and what dissent there was came from tobacco-growing states and tobacco companies who complained about First Amendment issues related to curbs on content of their advertising and communications.
According to National Public Radio, everyone seems to agree that stanching tobacco use will save lives — even the Congressional Budget Office, which warns that a reduction in smoking may exacerbate financial woes in Social Security and Medicaid because people likely will live longer.
Sources: CBS, June 12 — NPR, June 12 — Independent, June 12 — CNN, June 12.
For more information, see: Related Newsline story, May 25 — Related Newsline story, Aug. 25 2008 — Related Newsline story, Aug. 25, 2008 — Related Newsline story, May 14, 2007 — Related Newsline story, Jan.22, 2007.
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