1. Candy-flavored Tobacco : The Facts

2. SWAT is Florida’s statewide youth organization to mobilize, educate and equip Florida youth to revolt against and de-glamorize Big Tobacco. We are a united movement of Florida empowered youth working toward a tobacco-free future.

3. The Problem 4000 youth try tobacco for the first time everyday
Another 1000 become regular tobacco users
400,000 new underage smokers in the US every year
90% of adult smokers started before age 18
Addiction can begin within days to weeks of first experimentation
1/3 of all youth smokers will die prematurely

4. Tobacco is the only product that when used as intended will kill you
Smoking kills more people than alcohol, AIDS, car accidents, illegal drugs, murders and suicides combined
440,000 Americans die a year
4000+ chemicals

5. Tobacco use: 300,000 Florida Fatalities
Average fatalities per 10 years:
Shark attacks: 2-3
Alligator attacks: 10
Lightning strikes: 90
Murders: 10,000
Tobacco use: 300,000

6. “Today’s teenager is tomorrow’s potential regular customer”
-Phillip Morris
“The base of our business is the high school student”
-Lorillard
“Evidence is now available to indicate that the 14 to 18 year-old group is an increasing segment of the smoking population. RJR-T must soon establish a successful new brand in this market if our position in the industry is to be maintained over the long term.”
-RJ Reynolds 1976

7. A poll in March of 2008 showed that 1 in 5 youth surveyed remembered seeing an ad for flavored tobacco – twice as many as adults surveyed at the same time.

9. Who is trying the candy-flavored products?
24% of year old smokers had tried flavored tobacco
17% of year old smokers had tried them
8 % of year old smokers had tried flavored tobacco
4% of smokers 45yrs. and older had tried flavored tobacco
According to a study of 1600 smokers nationwide by the Roswell Park Cancer Institute.

10. Possible Product Benefits of Flavors for Tobacco Companies
Aroma of smoke is more socially acceptable
Mask harsh flavor of traditional products
Increase excitement over new flavors
Increase smoking enjoyment
“high curiosity to try” factor
New product development

11. In 2009, 3.4 % of all middle school students and 6% of high school students had smoked flavored cigarettes on one or more occasions during the past 30 days.

12. Recent bans on FLAVORED CIGARETTES do not include other FLAVORED TOBACCO PRODUCTS that are growing in popularity among kids, including DIP, CHEW, SNUFF, and SNUS

14. City and County Candy Flavored Tobacco Resolutions
SANTA ROSA
OKALOOSA
HOLMES
JACKSON
ESCAMBIA
WALTON
WASHINGTON
NASSAU
GADSDEN
JEFFERSON
CALHOUN
LEON
MADISON
HAMILTON
BAY
DUVAL
BAKER
LIBERTY
WAKULLA
SUWANNEE
COLUMBIA
TAYLOR
GULF
LAFAYETTE
UNION
CLAY
ST JOHNS
FRANKLIN
BRADFORD
DIXIE
GILCHRIST
ALACHUA
PUTNAM
County Resolutions: Blue
Collier
Desoto
Escambia
Gadsden
Glades
Hillsborough
Holmes
Indian River
Jackson
Jefferson
Madison
Pasco
Polk
Santa Rosa
Sarasota
St. Lucie
Wakulla
Walton
Washington
FLAGLER
LEVY
MARION
VOLUSIA
CITRUS
LAKE
SUMTER
SEMINOLE
City Resolutions: Pink
Bay: Callaway, Panama, Springfield
Clay: Green Cove Springs
Dixie: Cross City
Franklin: Apalachicola
Gadsden: Havana
Jefferson: Monticello
Miami-Dade: Miami Beach
Monroe: Key West
Palm Beach: Bell Glade, West Palm Beach
Pasco: San Antonio
Polk: Lakeland
Santa Rosa: Gulf Breeze, Milton
Sarasota: North Port
St. Lucie: Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce
Walton: DeFuniak Springs
Washington: City of Chipley
HERNANDO
ORANGE
BREVARD
PASCO
OSCEOLA
PINELLAS
HILLSBOROUGH
POLK
INDIAN RIVER
MANATEE
HARDEE
OKEECHOBEE
ST LUCIE
HIGHLANDS
DESOTO
Both City and County Resolutions: Stripes Gadsden Jefferson Pasco Polk
Santa Rosa
Sarasota
St. Lucie
Wakulla
Walton
Washington
SARASOTA
MARTIN
CHARLOTTE
GLADES
HENDRY
PALM BEACH
LEE
BROWARD
COLLIER
MONROE
DADE
Grant Funded - Yellow
Not Grant Funded - Black
Updated August 4, 2011 14