Smoking Signs (H 5800)

Retailers are currently required by law to post signs where tobacco products are sold to remind minors that it’s illegal for them to purchase cigarettes and other tobacco products. A committee hearing was held on legislation that would require those signs to add a warning to pregnant women that smoking is bad for them. The RI ACLU objected that the legislation improperly singles out pregnant women when smoking is known to cause a host of health problems to any number of groups of people, and that the signs would also serve to encourage people to snoop on and report pregnant women who purchase cigarettes. Though the ACLU did not dispute the health risks, the Affiliate testified that it was inappropriate to single out this one group for public shaming. No action was taken on this bill.