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BCMS LEGISLATIVE
NEWS

SAN ANTONIO ADOPTS

TOBACCO 21 ORDINANCE

City Council approves raising the sale age for tobacco products from 18 to 21

The San Antonio Tobacco 21 Coalition applauds the
leadership and commitment of the San Antonio City
Council to improve the health and quality of life for all
San Antonians by raising the sale age for tobacco prod-
ucts to 21 with the adoption of the Tobacco 21 ordi-
nance. Raising the tobacco age from 18 to 21 is an
important step toward reducing youth smoking and
preventing a lifetime of addiction and disease. Tobacco
21 will help counter the efforts of the tobacco industry
to target young people and minorities and will help re-
duce the devastating health and economic conse-
quences of tobacco use in San Antonio. Increasing the
legal age for tobacco products to 21 will reduce the
pipeline of tobacco products to our youth in middle
school and high school and reduce the number of
youth who start smoking. Over a lifetime, this policy
will reduce the smoking rate, reduce smoking related
deaths, and lead to fewer premature deaths.
“This is a great day for the city of San Antonio,” said
Abigail Moore, CEO of the San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. “With the
leadership of Metro Health and the support of our Tobacco 21 Coalition partners, the
City Council has taken a great step towards improving the health and wellbeing of all San
Antonians, especially our youth and young adults.”

“The passing of Tobacco 21 is a major public health win for our city,” said Dr. San-
dra Guerra, Chief Medical Officer for Humana TRICARE and American
Heart Association Board Member. “We applaud the Mayor and City Council for
taking a great step in preventing San Antonio youth from a lifelong addiction to tobacco
products for generations to come.”

Following the City Council vote, there will be a six-month education and phase in plan
with the ordinance officially taking effect on October 1, 2018.
The San Antonio Tobacco 21 Coalition includes the Bexar County Medical Society, San
Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Bethal Prevention Coalition, EastPoint
Promise Prevention Coalition, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American
Heart Association, American Lung Association in Texas, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids,
and March of Dimes, among others. Additionally, institutions such as The University of
Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas at San Antonio and
UTHealth San Antonio serve as educational resources.
The coalition encourages you to thank your City Council on this historic vote.

Leah Jacobson, MD, BCMS immediate past president and Mary Nava, BCMS chief government affairs officer represented BCMS on the
Coalition Steering/Leadership Committee. For more information, contact Mary Nava at mary.nava@bcms.org.

10 San Antonio Medicine • February 2018