Governor Kim Reynolds says she's willing to consider a bill that would raise the age for buying tobacco and other nicotine products to 21. "We need to continue to do everything we can to fight addiction in any form," Reynolds said late this morning. "I'll wait and see it in its final form, but I … [Read more...]
Plan to raise tobacco-buying age to 21 emerges in Iowa Senate
The legal age for buying nicotine-infused merchandise -- including cigarettes and "vaping" products -- would jump from 18 to 21 under a bill that has cleared its first hurdle in the Iowa Senate. Senate President Charles Schneider of West Des Moines is the Republican who's sponsoring the bill. … [Read more...]
Students part of national campaign to get smokers to quit
Students in several Iowa cities are taking part in anti-smoking campaigns today on this national Kick Butts Day. Sydney Brookman, a seventh grader at Waverly-Shell Rock Middle School in Waverly, says she learned early on that smoking is something you shouldn't do and she's spreading the message … [Read more...]
New app from state Alcoholic Beverages Division can spot fake ID’s
A new mobile app created by the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD) helps retailers determine the age of customers attempting to purchase alcohol, tobacco, and vapor products. ABD spokesman, Jake Holmes, says the app replaces the low-tech device that was once the common tool. "We used to send … [Read more...]
State Patrol to check for sale of vaping products to minors
A new program will see two state agencies are working together to crack down on vaping among underage kids in Iowa. State Trooper Vince Kurtz says the Patrol is working with the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division (ABD) on the program called I-PLEDGE. "What we're partnering together to work on is … [Read more...]
State smoking ban for restaurants and bars is now 10 years old
Sunday marked the 10th anniversary of the implementation of the Smoke-free Air Act that former Governor Chet Culver signed into law. The law banned smoking in bars, restaurants and outdoor entertainment venues. Adam Angstad has worked as a server at the Hamburg Inn in Iowa City for 12 years and … [Read more...]
E-cigarette company to work with Iowa Attorney General to keep kids from vaping
Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller is part of a plan announced by the e-cigarette maker JUUL to keep kids from using their devices. Miller says a group of public health experts will work on a model of how combustible that all e-cigarette companies can use. "We'll work with them to try and … [Read more...]
Teens hold rallies to call for an end to tobacco use
Iowa teens plan rallies at the state capitol and in their own communities today on what's known as Kick Butts Day. They're calling for local leaders and lawmakers to help create the first tobacco-free generation. Gustavo Torrez, director of youth advocacy at the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, … [Read more...]
Group says state not spending enough money on anti-smoking programs
A new report shows Iowa only spends a small fraction of the money it gets from cigarette taxes and the settlement with tobacco companies on anti-smoking programs. John Schacter, director of state communications for the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, says Iowa initially used most of its yearly … [Read more...]
Coalition proposes $1.50 hike in Iowa’s tobacco tax
A coalition of 19 groups is calling on Iowa's governor and legislators to more than double the state tax on tobacco products. Stacy Frelund, the state government relations director for the American Heart Association, said Iowa's tobacco tax ranks 29th among the states and hasn't been raised in a … [Read more...]