DHSS Press Release |
Date: April 26, 1999 DHSS-DPH13-1999 |
| Gregg C. Sylvester, M.D., Secretary Jennifer Castleberry, Communication Director (302) 255-9037, Pager (302) 247-8523 |
Contact: Ron Gough Phone: (302) 744-4907 Pager: (302) 247-1560 |
ANTI-SMOKING BILLBOARD UNVEILED IN WILMINGTON
Humorous Approach to Reducing Tobacco Use Applauded
WILMINGTON - Armed with 25 new billboards and a Memorandum of Understanding among Governor Thomas R. Carper and four state agencies, Delaware today stepped up the fight today to reduce tobacco use among youth.
As Governor Carper and Attorney General M. Jane Brady were hoisted by a "cherry picker" to the monstrous billboard at 3301 Lancaster Pike, in Wilmington, the state unveiled the newest anti-smoking billboard titled "Butts are Gross."
Gregg C. Sylvester, M.D., Secretary for Delaware Health and Social Services, Brian Bushweller, Secretary of the Department of Public Safety, Thomas Eichler, Secretary for the Department of Services for Children, Youth and their Families, and John Carney, Secretary for the Department of Finance all signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) that strengthens Delaware's ability to limit youth access to tobacco through enforcement and education.
The MOU addresses the state's responsibility to conduct retail inspections, to enforce the state law prohibiting the sale of tobacco to minors, and to conduct retailer and community education programs aimed at reducing youth's access to tobacco.
With more than 75 people present for the unveiling, including 40 children from Wilmington High School, Tobacco Free Delaware Director Deborah Brown kicked off the rally by bidding a long overdue farewell to the roadside's reminders to tobacco's most powerful icons. "Pursuant to the national tobacco settlement signed in 1998 by Attorney General Brady and 45 other attorney generals, the Marlboro Man, the camel, the cool water falls and the slim Virginia are now prohibited."
Secretary Bushweller pointed out that serious efforts are being made to combat the sales of tobacco to minors. "Ongoing compliance checks are now enhanced through the assistance of Cooperating Underage Witnesses (CUW's). These CUW's are young people who are so committed themselves to making sure that retailers do not sell tobacco products to minors that they work with an agent from the Division of Alcohol and Beverage Control (DABC).
Bushweller added, "The CUW's then go from store to store attempting to buy tobacco products. Agents then keep track of the results and take follow-up enforcement action for those retailers who are selling to the CUW's."
In the five weeks that checks have been made using CUW's, the compliance rate has been at 71 percent. This past week, 78 percent of retailers checked were complying with the law. "Although we eventually want compliance to be at 100 percent," said Bushweller, "our goal is 80 percent compliance for 1999."
Secretary Sylvester stated that smoking rates in Delaware are not yet decreasing. "One in every four adults are still smoking. In the past five years, smoking in high schools has increased from 22 percent to 26 percent." Sylvester added, "This may not seem significant, but the numbers are heading in the wrong direction. Today's counter advertisement is a great way of reducing these trends."
Governor Carper followed Secretary Sylvester by adding that humor is a great way of convincing young people not to smoke. "Rather than showing all the grim statistics of what tobacco can do, why not use a little bit of humor to get the message across. I think this billboard and others like it will get the attention of Delawareans young and old."
Attorney General Brady summed up the event by stating that she was glad to be part of the anti-tobacco campaign that is targeted at children. "I appreciate that we will be using tobacco settlement funds both to educate young people to say no to tobacco and to address the health concerns and lifestyle issues that affect people across this state."
The billboard campaign is a result of the national tobacco settlement between the state and tobacco producers. The agreement requires tobacco companies to remove their own advertising and pay the leases for new anti-tobacco billboards.
Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.
