TOBACCO LOBBY SNUFFS OUT BAN PROPOSED AT YOUTH BASEBALL SITES

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By Miriam Raftery

April 28, 2015 (Sacramento) – The tobacco industry has succeeded in snuffing out strict limits proposed on tobacco at ballparks.  Legislators on the Assembly Governmental Organization Committe, many of whom took hefty contributions from tobacco interests, voted overwhelmingly to water down a bill that originally would have banned all tobacco products at every ballpark in California—from Little League to Major League ballparks.

Legislatures voted to ban only smokeless chewing tobacco from Major League and Minor League parks, leaving it legal to use at youth sport venues and recreational ball fields. The law was also watered down to exempt cigarettes, cigars, and electronic cigarettes. 

Supporters of Assembly Bill 768 by Assemblyman Tony Thurmond (D-Richmond) had sought to protect young players from the fate suffered by Padres Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn, who died of cancer related to his long-time habit of chewing tobacco.

The largely gutted bill passed by a 15-5 vote, with all five no votes from Republicans who would not support even the scaled-back limits on tobacco at baseball parks.

The American Cancer Society Action Network’s lobbyist, Tim Gibbs, called the committee’s actions “troubling,” the Sacramento Bee reports.

So for now, the responsibility to discourage young ball players from getting hooked on dangerous tobacco products falls to coaches and parents, since the state failed to protect young athletes from these hazards.

 


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