Alachua County has become the first county in Florida to raise the minimum age for tobacco sales from 18 to 21. This is an issue for more than our Florida College towns. The tobacco / vaping habits start young for many long term users.
Many of our local schools are working with both students and their parents to combat this epidemic. Many local Public schools have held anti-vaping educational meetings, including the schools that serve Palmetto Bay and Pinecrest.
While the Miami-Dade School Board can take action which includes compulsory signing no-tobacco (anti-vaping) pledges by students, Florida School Boards do not have legislative authority over what is sold in the general community. That is where Alachua County stepped in.
Cigarettes / e-cigarettes are obviously not sold on school grounds I point this obvious fact out as a predicate for the position that this is one issue where State and/or the local governments need to do the heavy lifting as the problems come from the communities into the schools. This one of many areas where the locals need to help out the schools, in order to take this burden off their list of responsibilities that divert time from their core mission to teach.
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| Photo Credit: Miami Herald |
Palmetto Bay still has time to get a proposal or at least agenda discussion on the Agenda for the February Regular Council Meeting.
See full report about Alachua County's recent action online Miami Herald by Howard Cohen, You must now be 21 to buy tobacco in this Florida college town, joining a national trend, Jan 24, 2019.
So, elected officials of Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Cutler Bay and Miami-Dade County, will this at least merit a discussion?
What say ye?
Eugene Flinn
So, elected officials of Palmetto Bay, Pinecrest, Cutler Bay and Miami-Dade County, will this at least merit a discussion?
What say ye?
Eugene Flinn
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