Kendell N
Issue Brief Health Policy Track Serv. 2000 Jun 1:1-32.
Tobacco use is the single leading preventable cause of death in the United States. Annually, tobacco causes more than 430,000 deaths and costs the nation approximately $50 billion - $73 billion in medical expenses alone. Smoking among American adolescents increased 78 percent between 1988 and 1996. Each day, more than 6,000 youth under age 18 try their first cigarette, and more than 3,000 become daily smokers. State legislatures currently are pursuing a wide range of legislative proposals that are designed to limit youth access to tobacco products and to ensure that their state laws comply with current federal requirements. State laws vary in their approach, and are unevenly enforced. Until recently, current laws did not penalize minors for using or possessing tobacco; instead, punishment focused on retailers. These punishments, however, have proved ineffective because retailers rarely are prosecuted for breaking these laws. This document will highlight legislative approaches since 1992, the year the federal Synar Amendment was enacted.
在美国，吸烟是唯一可预防的首要致死原因。每年，烟草导致超过43万人死亡，仅医疗费用就使国家花费约500亿至730亿美元。1988年至1996年间，美国青少年吸烟率上升了78%。每天，超过6000名18岁以下的青少年尝试吸第一支烟，超过3000人成为日常吸烟者。目前，各州立法机构正在推行一系列立法提案，旨在限制青少年获取烟草制品，并确保其州法律符合现行联邦要求。各州法律的实施方式各不相同，执行情况也参差不齐。直到最近，现行法律并未对未成年人使用或持有烟草进行处罚；相反，处罚重点是零售商。然而，这些处罚已证明无效，因为零售商很少因违反这些法律而被起诉。本文将重点介绍自1992年联邦《西纳尔修正案》颁布以来的立法措施。
