HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF TOBACCO LEGISLATION AND REGULATION

In this paper we describe the legislative and regulatory history of to bacco control efforts and discuss the ways in which the debate over to bacco control has been framed. From a regulatory perspective, primary concern is how to balance the individual's legal use of tobacco produc ts with society's obligation to limit the use of a lethal product. Our review demonstrates the progress tobacco control advocates have made in enacting statewide legislation and local ordinances, especially dur ing the past fifteen years, to restrict both smoking in public places and youth access to tobacco products. Nevertheless, this progress may be threatened by a powerful and determined tobacco industry. We discus s various strategies far determining how and where to allocate tobacco control resources.