American Lung Association: State Scores Better In Annual Tobacco Report Card

American Lung Association: State Scores Better In Annual Tobacco 'Report Card'

SAINT PAUL, Minn., Jan. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Saint Paul City Council considers passing a comprehensive ordinance to prohibit smoking in indoor bars, restaurants and clubs, the fourth annual American Lung Association State of Tobacco Control report released today reveals Minnesota scored better in two of four key areas. In this year's report, Minnesota scored a "B" in tobacco program funding, up from a "D" grade last year, and improved from a "D" grade for its cigarette excise tax to a "C" this year. Two other grades, a "C" for youth access policies and an "F" for smokefree air remain unchanged from last year's report.The American Lung Association report looks at only statewide laws regulating indoor smoking, and does not reflect the county and municipal smoking ordinances in its analysis. The improved score in tobacco program funding is attributed to $6.6 million in unspent tobacco endowment funds carried over from the previous fiscal year's budget.

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"The American Lung Association has issued a challenge to lawmakers across the country to protect all workers from secondhand smoke by the year 2010 and to close loopholes in existing clean indoor air laws," said Pat McKone, tobacco control director for the American Lung Association of Minnesota. "For the first time since the report began, one state -- Maine -- earned four 'A' grades this year. I believe that Minnesota can rise to this challenge and regain its former status as a national leader in tobacco control efforts."

[code]McKone pointed to several indications that Minnesota was on the right path toward achieving that goal:

-- In addition to the City of Saint Paul, a number of other local
governments are currently working on clean indoor air ordinances
including: St. Louis, Lake, McLeod and Crow Wing counties. Nine cities
and five counties in Minnesota have already adopted local ordinances
that currently protect an estimated 39 percent of the state's
population from the proven health effects of secondhand smoke.
-- A December 2005 report from the Minnesota Department of Health shows
significant declines in the percentages of young Minnesotans who
smoke. The number of high school students who had ever used tobacco
dropped from 70 percent in 2000 to 56 percent in 2005. For middle
school children, that rate fell from 41 percent to 28 percent,
according to the state survey.
-- A detailed financial analysis of taxable food and liquor sales in the
seven-county Twin Cities metro region conducted by a daily newspaper
showed a growing, healthy hospitality industry after four local
ordinances began March 31, 2005.[/code]

McKone was encouraged by progress made in 2005, as well as growing political and public momentum toward a comprehensive statewide solution to the public health problems caused by secondhand smoke.

"Nearly everyone agrees that a comprehensive statewide law is the best solution to protect all Minnesotans," she said. "One of the ways we get a statewide law is through the growth of city and county ordinances. Minnesotans like the idea of local control, and keeping the power to pass ordinances at the local level. As the number of local ordinances grows, state legislators begin to realize what the people they represent already know -- a majority of Minnesotans no longer consider secondhand smoke a 'nuisance,' but a serious health risk to workers and patrons alike. Add the skyrocketing health care costs we are all paying, and this becomes an important election year issue."

According to the American Lung Association State of Tobacco Control report, more than 438,000 Americans die every year from diseases caused by tobacco, including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and heart disease. Smoking costs the United States approximately $157 billion each year in health-care costs and lost productivity.

Regarding the recent "health impact fee" court ruling now under appeal to the Minnesota Supreme Court, McKone said, "We know that increasing the price of cigarettes reduces youth smoking and higher costs does motivate some people to quit. Let's call it a tax if we have to, but it's important to prevent the onset of smoking and to help people quit."

[code] Here is how Minnesota compared to other states in the national report:

-- Minnesota's cigarette tax of $1.23 was ranked 14th in the 50 states,
Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia. Last year the state was
ranked 38th
-- Minnesota ranked 12th in youth access laws, tied with Massachusetts
and Hawaii. Michigan was ranked lowest for preventing youth access to
tobacco.
-- Minnesota ranked 19th in the nation for smokefree air. California and
Washington had the best grades in this area, Wyoming the worst.[/code]

To see a copy of the complete national report, or to see how you can do to help raise Minnesota's grades for tobacco control, visit the Lung Association of Minnesota website, http://www.alamn.org/ or call tollfree 1-800-586-4872.

Source: American Lung Association