Alaska State Legislature

News From The House Majority

Ken Freeman, Press Secretary
State Capitol
Juneau, AK 99801
phone: (907) 465-3804
web site: http://www.akrepublicans.org
Actuality line: 1-800-478-6540

Measure Seeks To Curb Smoking Among Teens

Raises Legal Age to Possess Tobacco to 21

For Immediate Release: April 16, 1997 Contact: Rep. Pete Kott (907) 465-3777

JUNEAU - Representative Pete Kott is seeking to raise the legal age to possess tobacco products from 19 to 21 through an amendment passed in the House Labor and Commerce Committee to legislation which seeks to deter tobacco use among minors.

HB 159, sponsored by Representative Pete Kott (R-Eagle River), also requires merchants demand proof of age from any prospective purchaser, who appears to be under twenty-seven years of age, prior to the sale of tobacco products. It further requires all clerks involved in the retail sale of tobacco to sign an acknowledgment that they have been advised of this proof of age requirement.

HB 159 would increase the penalty for both possession and illegal sale of tobacco to a mandatory minimum of $250 for the first offense, $500 for the second offense and $1000 for a third offense during a two-year period. Current law provides up to a $300 fine for the possession of tobacco and a fine of $300 for the illegal sale of tobacco.

"I am very excited that this measure which seeks to deter the use of tobacco by minors was strengthened today by the action taken by the House and Labor Committee to raise the legal age to 21," said Kott.

"Under existing law, no one under 19 years of age is permitted to possess tobacco. We have raised that to 21 and included other provisions in HB 159 that limit access minors currently have to tobacco products," said Rep. Kott.

The House Labor and Commerce passed out HB 159 which moves next to the House Judiciary Committee.

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