It is a sad truth in America today, if you’re underage and you want to procure cigarettes, that one of the most effective ways to do this is to receive them through mail order, and the only way you can receive through mail order is through the U.S. Postal Service.  FedEx, UPS, DHL, and all other major carriers have adopted a policy wherein they refuse to deliver cigarettes through the mail.  Unfortunately, the Postal Service is still required under law to provide that type of opportunity, and I think it’s time we change that law.  This is why I recently introduced the “Do-Not-Mail Tobacco� bill to combat this dangerous loophole.

Millions and millions of underage smokers are finding it the one way in which they can further their habit.  At the same time, local and state governments are losing over a billion dollars per year in tax revenues that cost all taxpayers in some way or another.

This is a policy that can be changed.  The legislation we’ve developed here was done in concert with great organizations like the American Cancer Society, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, the New York Association of Convenience Stores, and the American Wholesale Marketers Association.  Banning mail order cigarettes from the U.S. Postal Service is a pressing health and economic issue and it must be put into law.

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 12th, 2007 at 9:00 am and is filed under Politics .