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Government Measures to Prevent Smoking

Government measures to prevent smoking go beyond federally-funded programs. They include the report of the U.S. surgeon general about the dangers of smoking and state and federal laws. They also include a series of court decisions protecting people from the harmful effects of cigarette smoke.

  1. Early Laws

    • In 1964, four adults in 10 smoked cigarettes. That same year the United States surgeon general published a report that confirmed a link between cigarette smoking and cancer. Subsequently, Congress passed a law in 1965 requiring warning labels on cigarettes. Then, in 1971, Congress followed up with another federal law banning the advertising of cigarettes on both radio and television.

    Civil Intervention

    • After Surgeon General C. Everett Koop officially declared nicotine an addictive substance in 1988, the American tobacco industries faced a crush of lawsuits. In response to those actions, industry representatives agreed to pay hundreds of billions of dollars to various states as compensation for cigarette-related healthcare costs. The federal government reciprocated by affording tobacco companies some protection from ruinous suits. Those payments continue to this day.

    Legislation

    • Since passing the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act in 1965, Congress has continually passed legislation that was composed to reduce or eliminate smoking hazards. From the Federal Cigarette Labeling and Advertising Act of 1965, Congress has taken action in each subsequent decade to fight tobacco hazards. The legislation includes a variety of health warnings required on cigarette labeling, bans on smoking on airlines, and requirements for states to ban sales to minors.

    Tobacco Control Act of 2009

    • Most recently, on June 22, 2009, President Obama signed sweeping legislation giving the federal government additional power to regulate the tobacco industry and discourage smoking. The act appointed the Food and Drug Administration the primary regulator of tobacco and created the Center for Tobacco Products within the FDA. The legislation takes measures to prohibit tobacco companies from marketing to children such as making candy flavored cigarettes. It also further limits misleading advertising such as the use of word such as "light" with tobacco products.

    Regulation

    • Consistent with a series of laws, the federal government has continued to restrict tobacco use and promotion within its jurisdiction. For example, cigarettes were discontinued in military rations in 1975. The Department of Defense banned smoking in 1994. In 1996, a comprehensive federal plan was launched to keep kids away from cigarettes. In 1997 all smoking was banned in all federal workplaces. All the while, states and municipalities have followed suit, one after another banning smoking more public places such as movie theaters, restaurants and bars. Federal and State governments also impose steep excise taxes on cigarettes to discourage their use and offset their social health costs.

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