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D. A RESOLUTION TO LIMIT YOUTH ACCESS TO TOBACCO IN NORTH CAROLINA <br /> Motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner <br /> Willhoit to approve the Resolution to Limit Youth Access to Tobacco in North <br /> Carolina as stated below: <br /> RESOLUTION <br /> YOUTH ACCESS TO TOBACCO IN NORTH CAROLINA <br /> WHEREAS, tobacco use is the number one preventable cause of death; and <br /> WHEREAS, over one million teenagers start smoking each year, and minors buy <br /> about one billion packs of cigarettes each year; and <br /> WHEREAS, most smokers start at about age 13-14 and 90% start smoking before <br /> the age of 20; and <br /> WHEREAS, the earlier a young person starts to use tobacco, the less likely it <br /> is that he/she will be able to quit later (JAMA) and subsequently will die of <br /> a tobacco induced disease; and <br /> WHEREAS, in locations where tobacco sales to underage persons have been <br /> curtailed, the prevalence of smoking by teenagers has decreased, particularly <br /> among the youngest age groups; and <br /> WHEREAS, the Alcohol, Drug Abuse and Mental Health Administration (ADAMHA) <br /> Reorganization Act Synar Amendment mandates adoption and enforcement of laws <br /> prohibiting sale or distribution of tobacco products to those younger than 18 <br /> years of age by October 1, 1993; and <br /> WHEREAS, North Carolina may lose significant federal funding for mental health <br /> drug and alcohol abuse if it does not show that they are enforcing their <br /> minimum age law "in a manner that can reasonably be expected to reduce the <br /> extent to which tobacco products are available to individuals under the age <br /> of 18"; and <br /> WHEREAS, a District Court judge found a store clerk innocent of selling <br /> cigarettes to a 14 year old on April 24, 1992 in Wilmington, North Carolina. <br /> THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Orange County Board of Commissioners <br /> requests the North Carolina General Assembly to change North Carolina Law to <br /> effectively prohibit the sale of tobacco products to persons under 18. <br /> BE IT ALSO RESOLVED, that the word "knowingly" be removed from the present <br /> state law concerning selling cigarettes to minors. <br /> BE IT ALSO RESOLVED, that language be included in the law which states: "No <br /> retailer shall sell or permit to be sold cigarettes or other tobacco products <br /> to an individual without requesting and examining identification establishing <br /> the purchaser's age as 18 years or greater unless the seller has some other <br /> conclusive basis for determining the buyer's age. " <br /> VOTE: UNANIMOUS <br /> V. SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS - NONE <br /> VI. PUBLIC HEARINGS - NONE <br /> VII. REPORTS <br /> A. REPORTS TO THE COMMUNITY <br /> Planning Director Marvin Collins gave specific information on the <br /> Comprehensive Plan Element for Bingham Township. He noted that the Bingham <br /> TAC is the most active in the County. There are 5200 residents in Bingham <br /> Township. It is the fifth largest township and second largest in growth rate. <br /> He noted that there are a lot of residents who live in the vicinity of the two <br /> proposed Economic Development Districts. The planning staff will be <br /> recommending that they focus on the two existing commercial nodes and allow <br /> expansion at those two nodes. There will be a series of township meetings on <br />