The Virginian-Pilot 
                             THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Friday, January 3, 1997               TAG: 9701030005
SECTION: FRONT                   PAGE: A14  EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                            LENGTH:   51 lines

KEEP TOBACCO FROM KIDS

On Dec. 5, the board of directors of the American Lung Association of Virginia voted to condemn the actions of Attorney General James S. Gilmore III in filing a ``friend of the court'' brief challenging the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's tobacco regulations. We are disappointed that Mr. Gilmore would position Virginia on the side of tobacco as opposed to protecting the health of our children.

Certainly most Virginians disagree with the attorney general's position and favor increased regulation of the tobacco industry, particularly to reduce smoking among teen-agers. In an August poll, 69 percent of Virginians said they favored restrictions on tobacco advertising to curb teen-age smoking. In the same poll, 55 percent said the federal government should regulate nicotine as a drug.

The argument that the FDA regulations would have a detrimental impact on Virignia's economy is weak. The regulations would restrict sales only to youth, sales that are already illegal. It is not the abolition movement the tobacco industry and its allies are depicting it to be.

It is the hope of the American Lung Association of Virginia that the attorney general will reconsider his decision to side with the tobacco manufacturers, and follow the wishes of the majority of Virginians to restrict youth access to tobacco.On Dec. 5, the board of directors of the American Lung Association of Virginia voted to condemn the actions of Attorney General James S. Gilmore III in filing a ``friend of the court'' brief challenging the U.S. Food & Drug Administration's tobacco regulations. We are disappointed that Mr. Gilmore would position Virginia on the side of tobacco as opposed to protecting the health of our children.

Certainly most Virginians disagree with the attorney general's position and favor increased regulation of the tobacco industry, particularly to reduce smoking among teen-agers. In an August poll, 69 percent of Virginians said they favored restrictions on tobacco advertising to curb teen-age smoking. In the same poll, 55 percent said the federal government should regulate nicotine as a drug.

The argument that the FDA regulations would have a detrimental impact on Virginia's economy is weak. The regulations would restrict sales only to youths, sales that are already illegal. It is not the abolition movement the tobacco industry and its allies are depicting it to be.

It is the hope of the American Lung Association of Virginia that the attorney general will reconsider his decision to side with the tobacco manufacturers, and follow the wishes of the majority of Virginians to restrict youth access to tobacco. ELEANOR H. GARRETT, Ph.D., R.N. President American Lung Association of Virginia Lynchburg, Dec. 17, 1996

by CNB