My sister's addicted. A second offense could result in double that. Gulf County will be among the first local governments in Florida to adopt such a law if it survives public hearings set for March 25 and April 8. The state Legislature is considering similar proposals. The percentage of cigarette smokers, and the incidence of lung cancer, is far higher in Gulf County and other parts of North Florida than it is in the rest of the state, Kent noted.
Addiction often begins at an early age, other statistics show.
But the ordinance, however well-intentioned, won't do that, said Bradley Coulter, tobacco prevention coordinator with the American Lung Association office in Tallahassee. Even Gov. Lawton Chiles, when asked about the state legislation, wondered whether some anti-tobacco proposals that targeted teens for punishment were going too far. Young people smoke because it is an act of rebellion. It makes it even more enticing. County Commission Chairman Nathan Peters said that won't be a problem.