By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Guam maintained its 94 percent tobacco compliance checks this year as the legislature enacted new laws further restricting the sale of tobacco products to minors, Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center reported today.
Guam's compliance is above the federally mandated 80 percent.
The GBHWC and the Department of Revenue and Taxation conducted the annual tobacco retailer compliance inspections throughout the island's 19 villages.
"Compliance rate in 2024 is 94.4 percent which remains similar to that of last year’s 94.8 percent with the addition of disposable electronic nicotine delivery systems, or ENDS, and implementation of new relevant public laws in this year’s inspections," the GBHWC said in a press release.
Carissa Pangelinan, GBHWC director, said this year’s inspection involved new policies passed by the 37th Guam Legislature, which updated and supported Guam's tobacco compliance efforts.
"It was the first time the fees substantially increased, and penalties included suspension or revocation of tobacco business licenses," Pangelinan said.
"As an island community, it is our responsibility to protect our youth – our future leaders – by creating positive influences that shape their beliefs and behavior," she added.
The monitoring activity is mandated by the federal government’s Public Law 102-321, the Synar Amendment, which requires states and territories that receive Substance Use Prevention, Treatment, Recovery Services Block Grant funds to establish and enforce the minimum legal age for purchasing and using tobacco products.
Consistent with federal law, the legal age for buying and using tobacco products in Guam is 21.
GBHWC and DRT as well as the Department of Public Health & Social Services are all jointly responsible for carrying out Guam's Tobacco Control Act of 1998 and Youth Protection Act of 2017 to ensure island-wide efforts for youth tobacco/nicotine use prevention.
In February and March 2024, three public laws were enacted to include P.L. 37-78 (channels tobacco violation fees and penalties to support government tobacco prevention and education programs); P.L. 37-79 (prohibition of tobacco vending machines); and P.L. 37-90 (increased fees and penalties for tobacco violations). All three laws were implemented during the tobacco compliance inspections.
This year, of the 270 tobacco retailers inspected, 15 were found in violation of selling tobacco or disposable electronic nicotine products to minors ages 16-20.
These establishments immediately received citations from DRT ranging from $2,000 to $4,000. Per Guam P.L. 37-90, tobacco violations are penalized between $2,000 and $20,000 per citation.
“The Synar inspection is an ongoing prevention initiative that safeguards our youth from accessing tobacco and ENDS prematurely from the retail front," Pangelinan said.
“We hope to maintain Guam’s compliance rate at above 90 percent. This is a clear indication that as one community, we are committed to protecting our island’s youth from inappropriate exposure to tobacco and ENDS, and from lifelong damaging effects of these products on their health.”
Subscribe to
our digital
monthly edition
Comentarios