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VENDING MACHINE QUICK FACTS

Among eighth graders who smoke, seven percent report purchasing cigarettes from vending machines.

Restricting youth and adult access to tobacco is a critical deterrent to smoking.

Tobacco vending machines are inconsistent with Oregon’s statute to eliminate youth access to tobacco products.

Tobacco vending machines give youth easy access.

Purchases from vending machines do not require age verification, allowing youth to easily buy tobacco in public places such as hotel lobbies and bowling centers.

Among eighth graders who smoke, seven percent report purchasing cigarettes from vending machines.

The American Lung Association recently gave Oregon a “C” grade in preventing youth access solely because tobacco is sold in vending machines.

Tobacco vending machines are inconsistent with Oregon’s statute to eliminate youth access to tobacco products, which includes a law requiring vendor assistance for all tobacco sales. The one exception to this is a law that allows vending machine sales and prohibits local jurisdictions from passing laws banning them.

Banning tobacco vending machines restricts youth access to tobacco.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Institute of Medicine concluded that restricting youth and adult access to tobacco is a critical deterrent to smoking.

As tobacco companies respond to smokefree laws with many new smokeless products designed to appeal to youth, banning vending machines now may proactively close a future sales channel.

Children and young adults who start using tobacco often become addicted for life.

Forty-eight children smoke their first cigarette every day in Oregon. A year later, 20 will still be smoking. Ninety percent of current adult smokers in Oregon started smoking before they turned 18 years old.

The earlier a child begins to use tobacco, the higher his or her risk of contracting lung cancer, heart disease and other serious illnesses.

Young tobacco users face an increased risk of dental problems, including tooth decay and gum disease.