Barack Obama wants to sign a new Tobacco Bill, a bill which is more expected by several Middle Georgians.  The new legislation aims to cut down on minors smoking, but several people don't believe that it will work.

Brad Dixon, a 22 years old young smoker, said: "I've probably been smoking ever since my 9th or 10th grade year of high school".  Younger smokers, like Dixon, are the reason for a "Tobacco Bill", the House and the Senate have already approved and passed on for President Obama to sign into law.  If it becomes law, the government will have the ability to tighten control on tobacco manufacturers.

The bill will give the Food and Drug Administration more power to control what goes into cigarettes and other tobacco products.  Even warning labels will get bigger and Tobacco Companies will be restricted to where they can boost.  The new legislation will interdict them to use special flavors, like strawberry and spice, except menthol flavor, which can attract kids.  However, menthol flavor will not be prohibited.

Natasha Harrington, who has been smoking menthols for more than 20 years, explained: "I could buy them at 14 when I started". She added that the proposed laws may keep children from picking up the habit, but won't help adults or long-term smokers kick it.

A store clerk at one Macon convenience store sees every day 8 out of 10 customers buying cigarettes or other tobacco products.  She said that the shop sells more tobacco products than anything else and doesn't expect that the new bill will change something.

A tobacco store owner said: "They can get up to $7 a pack, and people are still going to buy them.  I don't care what kind of bill or tax they put on them, because smokers are still going to buy their cigarettes".

From a lot of deadly addiction, tobacco is the single most expensive, preventable cause for diseases and deaths, according to Dr. David Harvey.

He reported: "Eight billion dollars per year is what it cost Georgia to treat tobacco-related diseases and 10,000 people a year in Georgia die from tobacco-related illnesses. It's a waste of our tax money and our personal money to have to pay for things we can prevent."

The tobacco advertisements will not be allowed near schools, in order to help prevent teenagers from starting smoking.  This new anti-smoking bill was not yet approved by American president but it is accepted but Georgia Counties. For example three Middle Georgia counties, Baldwin, Hancock and Washington, have agreed to be tobacco-free campuses.