Vol. 107 No. 2 - 09/26/2018

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rattler A S T. M A R Y ’ S P U B L I C AT I O N S I N C E 1 9 1 9 Vol 107 | Issue 2 | Sept. 26, 2018 | San Antonio, Texas

OPINION

TOBACCO 21 PG.7

THE NEW ORDINANCE MAKING IT ILLEGAL

FOR THOSE UNDER 21 TO PURCHASE TOBACCO PRODUCTS IN SAN ANTONIO AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR UNDERAGED TOBACCO USERS

Calling out modern “cancel culture”

LIFESTYLE

RENEE PADILLA & SAMANTHA SALAZAR STAFF WRITER & MANAGING EDITOR Beginning Oct. 1, the Tobacco 21 ordinance will take effect in the city of San Antonio, requiring residents to be 21 years of age to buy tobacco products such as cigarettes, electronic cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco and chewing tobacco. “This public health measure will delay the age of first tobacco use, reduce the risk of youth becoming regular smokers and help keep tobacco out of schools,” said the Metropolitan Health District in a statement on their website. “I think the ordinance will make it so less young people become addicted to nicotine and tobacco, therefore hopefully causing a curb in addiction and deaths due to addiction. I think it will

be more beneficial,” Lucas Kein, senior psychology major. Retailers who violate the new ordinance will be charged with a Class C misdemeanor and can face up to a $500 fine. Individuals aged 18-21 will not receive a penalty for the possession of tobacco products within the city limits. The Tobacco 21 ordinance, published by the Metropolitan Health Center, cites several reasons for its decision to pass the legislation, one being national data that asserts 95 percent of adult smokers begin smoking before turning 21. Another reason cited claims the increase in minimum age will be beneficial to the well-being of young people. The Institute of Medicine stated that “raising the minimum legal sales age for tobacco products nationwide will reduce tobacco initiation, particularly among adolescents aged 15 to 17, improve health across the lifespan, and save lives.” Gonzalo Guerra, senior psychology major, believes the ordinance is overall a step in the right direction. “I think raising the legal age to buy tobacco products

is a good call,” Guerra said. “Cigarettes and tobacco are highly addictive.” The ordinance, which has already been implemented in more than 280 cities and counties in 18 states, was introduced to the community in August of 2017 and will go into effect Oct. 1. This means that tobacco retailers within the city are now required to verify customers are 21 years of age before selling them tobacco products, post-Tobacco 21 signage and educating employees on the new ordinance. Minors who violate the new tobacco law may be fined up to $250, according to Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar, who says that the Comptroller can suspend or revoke the permits of retailers who sell any tobacco product to a minor. They may also face fines of up to $1,000 per violation. Some people worry that retailers will lose a significant portion of sales if the legal age is raised to 21, but studies such as one published in the American Journal of Public Health show that this might not be the case. “Retailers would only lose up to 2 percent of total cigarette sales,” said the article.

PG.10

Should having tattoos affect job prospects? ENTERTAINMENT

PG. 12

Fotoseptiembre exhibit premieres

SPORTS

CONTINUED ON PG. 2

Impending elections spur millenials to exercise voting rights Samantha

Ruvalcaba CONTRIBUTING WRITER

As the midterm elections loom closer, millennial voter engagement is expected to increase. “Your generation has more power than any

other to change things,” said former president Barack Obama during his speech at the University of Illinois earlier this month. He said this after noting that the younger generation—presumably between the ages 18 and 30—has the largest number of eligible voters than any other generation. With this, the younger generation also appears to be the most civically and politically

engaged. By voicing their political views via social media and hashtags, volunteering and protesting year-round, young adults are making sure to exercise their rights as citizens. However, the issue is that this motivation to make a difference is not taking younger people to the voting booths, resulting in low turnout. CONTINUED ON PG. 7

PG.14

Welcoming the new athletic sirector


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