Talk to your children about the dangers of tobacco use. Discuss the new law with your friends and neighbors. Tobacco and Minors Current research shows that 89 percent of adult smokers started smoking before they were 18 years old. The dangers and health risks associated with smoking are well known. Illness related to tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable deaths in this state.
Reports indicate that the incidence of tobacco use by children and teenagers in Texas has increased.
There are an estimated 200,000 smokers in Texas between the ages of 12 and 18, with over 20 million packs of cigarettes sold to minors illegally each year. During the 1997 legislative session, laws were passed restricting access to tobacco by minors, increasing permit fees for selling cigarettes and tobacco products, and dedicating funds to enforce the new laws and provide education about tobacco usage. The Comptroller of Public Accounts is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, or disability in employment or in the provision of any services, programs, or activities. In Austin, the local TDD number is 463-4621.