Bill sponsors and community advocates will host a virtual news conference on Feb. 7 to support HB 3090 to end the statewide sale of all flavored tobacco products. Products with flavors like Cotton Candy and Orange Soda are clearly marketed to kids, and ending the sale of flavored tobacco products will protect their health and prevent them from becoming lifelong tobacco users. What Virtual news conference with HB 3090 sponsors and supporters, including new poll statewide results showing strong support to end to the sale of flavored tobacco products. Sen. Elizabeth Steiner (D-Portland) and Sen. Bill Hansell (R-Athena) are Chief Sponsors, but are unable to attend the news conference.
Chief Sponsor is Rep. Lisa Reynolds, MD (D-Northeast Washington County), Rep. Hai Pham, DMD (D-South Hillsboro, West Beaverton), is Co-Chief Sponsor, Rep. Mark Gamba (D-Milwaukie), Co-Sponsor Iden Campbell, Policy & Research Justice Mgr, Coalition of Community Health Clinics. Emcee will be Christina Bodamer, American Heart Association
When Tuesday, Feb. 7, 9:30 – 10 a.m.
Where Register for Zoom event: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwsdOmtqDgvGdCxsJDnuQx5_u_twN6wXvA8
For too long, the tobacco industry has targeted youth, especially kids of color, with flavored tobacco products, all to hook new customers. Flavors like Cotton Candy, Orange Soda and Watermelon Ice clearly target kids, and these appealing products serve as an on-ramp to nicotine addiction and prolonged tobacco use. The evidence is clear: Flavors Hook Oregon Kids.
• The 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey showed:
• More than 2.5 million middle and high school students use e-cigarettes
• 85% of youth e-cigarette users report using flavored products
• 81% of kids who’ve used tobacco started with a flavored product.*
• Each year, 5,000 Oregon kids will try their first cigarette.*
• 11.9% of Oregon 11th graders are current e-cigarette users.*
• Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in Oregon, killing over 8,000 Oregonians a year.* The tobacco industry has a 60+ year history of predatory marketing of menthol and other flavors to communities of color and the tactics worked:
• Menthol-flavored cigarettes, which are more addictive and harder to quit, are used by 85% of Black smokers (12 and older) compared to 29% of white smokers.* Ending the sale of flavored tobacco will stop the predatory marketing of these addictive products that are especially targeted to youth and people of color.
Strong support for ending sales of all flavored tobacco products A January 2023 statewide poll shows that 62% of Oregon residents support ending the sale of flavored tobacco products. The poll was conducted by FM3 of 800 Oregon voters between Jan. 18-21, 2023. This figure is similar to other recent Oregon polling results. While Oregon’s two most populous counties have approved ordinances ending the sale of flavored tobacco products, having the Oregon Legislature approve this bill will protect kids’ health statewide.
*Sources: JAMA, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Oregon Health Authority, Oxford Academic.
About Flavors Hook Oregon Kids
Flavors Hook Oregon Kids is a statewide coalition of over 50 diverse organizations focused on ending the sale of flavored tobacco products. The coalition includes the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Heart Association, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Lung Association, Kaiser Permanente and community-based organizations cross the state.
