As young Kentuckians continue to advocate for meaningful enforcement of Tobacco-21 law and find ways to keep vaping products out of the hands of kids, students are using their voices to speak out on the issue.

Sydney Shaffer testifying at the Interim Joint Committee on Licensing and Occupations.

Sydney Shaffer, a student from Scott County, shared her experience in a recent Interim Joint Committee on Licensing and Occupations  committee meeting. She shared with legislators the reality in her community that “kids were targeted with cool advertising campaigns, lured with fruity flavors, enticed with cool looking devices that are easily disguised and then addicted with very high levels of nicotine.” And she highlighted the issue of underage sales happening in stores across the state, highlighting that “there’s a law in Kentucky against selling these products to kids, but that’s still happening. A law against selling to kids is only as good as its enforcement and right now, that’s not nearly enough.” Read Sydney’s full testimony below.

Students from every region of the Commonwealth are coming together to fight this issue and protect Kentucky kids from the harmful effects of vaping. To highlight the importance of this work and bring together youth advocates, two events will take place during the 2024 legislative session with opportunities for youth to get involved.

Wednesday, February 14th: Youth Tobacco Control Conference hosted by Networking for Kentucky Youth (N4KY)

The 2024 Kentucky Youth Tobacco Control Conference in Frankfort will unite high-school-age youth advocacy coalitions/groups from across the state. This youth-led event will be an engaging day of learning, skill-building, networking, and fun! It is our goal that conference attendees will leave better educated, and further empowered, to protect their peers, schools, and communities from the harmful effects of tobacco/nicotine and vaping.

Contact: Tara Rueckert (tara.rueckert@ky.gov) or Jackie Hodges (jaclyn.hodges@ky.gov)

Thursday, February 15th: Ignite KYouth: Enforce Tobacco 21 Rally hosted by #iCANendthetrend Youth Advisory Board

The Ignite KYouth: Enforce Tobacco 21 Rally at the Capitol will engage young adults from across the state in advocating for stronger enforcement of Tobacco 21 law in Kentucky. For far too long, youth have remained vulnerable to industry manipulation and illegal sales practices, and the growing e-cigarette epidemic among young Kentuckians is our call to action. Join us as these advocates stand up for increased protection and accountability. It is our hope that youth participants will meet with their legislators, engage with media, and come prepared to create a loud and proud presence in the name of protecting Kentucky youth.

Contact: Griffin Nemeth (nemeth.griffin@uky.edu)

Complete this interest form to learn more about these events. Join the efforts to end youth nicotine addiction today!

Sydney’s testimony:

I’m Sydney Shaffer, a senior high school student from Scott County. After seeing what happened to my own grandfather and ultimately losing him to lung cancer, I was especially aware of the seriousness of lung disease and what nicotine products can do to people. 

I also saw and read stories in the news about a youth-e-cigarette use epidemic and how kids were becoming addicted to these products, and I saw that playing out in my own community.

I really wanted to do something to help, so I reached out to the American Lung Association to try to get involved.

I was 11 years old at the time and my involvement has evolved and grown over the past several years as a youth advocate.

I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to sit with my own Senator a couple of times to talk about policy to help protect kids from nicotine addiction and future nicotine-related diseases. And I’m very grateful to sit before this committee today and to ask for your help.

I think we all know kids were targeted with cool advertising campaigns, lured with fruity flavors, enticed with cool looking devices that are easily disguised and then addicted with very high levels of nicotine. That’s the truth.

We also know there’s a law in Kentucky against selling these products to kids, but that’s still happening. That’s also true.

Today we’re asking for your help to put a stop to that. Help enforce the existing “Tobacco 21” law to keep these products out of kids’ hands through regular store checks and penalties for illegal sales practices just like we have for alcohol.

A law against selling to kids is only as good as its enforcement and right now, that’s not nearly enough.

Kids in Kentucky need your support.