Smoking is still the number one cause of preventable death in Oregon, but we can fight back!
If Oregonians need a license to drive a car, why don't businesses and retailers need a license to sell deadly tobacco products?? It doesn't make sense, does it?
As we've fought for improved tobacco control across Oregon, you may have heard us mention a policy called Tobacco Retail Licensure (TRL). TRL is simply a wonky way to say businesses that sell tobacco should have a license to do so.
But, why? What's the point of requiring businesses to have a license to sell tobacco products?
Well the short of it is this: requiring businesses to hold a license to sell tobacco will allow public health officials across the state to run compliance checks on these businesses to ensure they are following the tobacco control laws in our state. The license program will fund the compliance checks which will stop businesses from selling tobacco to our children. This is the most important take away: Businesses across Oregon can sell tobacco to children because without a license program it is nearly impossible to enforce the law!
Still wondering why ACS CAN is fighting for a TRL policy in Oregon?
- Without the state of Oregon requiring businesses to have a license to sell tobacco it is difficult to ensure compliance and enforcement of existing laws we've fought so hard for like, Tobacco 21 and the tax on e-cigarettes.
- Fairness! Other businesses in Oregon who sell age restricted items are required to hold licenses, it should be the same for tobacco.
- We need to support local business! Passing a law to require businesses to carry a license to sell tobacco allows the local Public Health Authority the ability to engage with local businesses to educate and train them on how to comply and prevent children from gaining access to tobacco!
Ready to get behind us in the fight?? One of the two ways you can helps us the most is to share your tobacco story and sign our letter of support to lawmakers for TRL!
Ready to quit!? Check out the Oregon Quit Line info here.
Share Your Tobacco Story
ACS CAN advocates are storytellers. In our fight against Big Tobacco we need Oregonians to understand the deadly impact of tobacco in our communities. Has your family been impacted by tobacco? Fight back and share your story!
Sign our letter of support to protect Oregon children!
Let our lawmakers here in Oregon know you want to see our tobacco control laws enforced so we can prevent children from accessing tobacco! Businesses across Oregon are able to get away with selling tobacco to children because without a license program it is nearly impossible to enforce the law!