**Embargoed until Monday, April 8th, 2019 5:30AM-AZ Time**

Tucson, County voters support raising smoking age

2-1 margin favor 21 age limit to buy tobacco

PHOENIX (April 1, 2019) - Voters throughout Pima County support snuffing out smoking for
those under 21 by raising the legal sale age of tobacco.

The American Heart Association joined with CityHealth, an initiative of the de Beaumont
Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, to commission a poll, which was conducted by OH
Predictive Insights across the state. In this new poll residents in both Pima County and the city
of Tucson overwhelmingly approve of setting the legal age to sell cigarettes and vaping
products at 21.

“Raising the tobacco sales age to 21 is one of the best things cities can do to save lives and
increase quality of life for local residents,” said Shelley Hearne, DrPH, President of CityHealth.
“We would love to see Tucson and Pima join the hundreds of other cities across the U. S. that
are protecting their youth from the harms of tobacco.”
When asked about both tobacco and vaping products, Pima County residents are in favor 64-29
raising the legal smoking age, while Tucson voters approve in a wider margin, 68-28. While the
issue is supported among all demographic groups tested, women especially approve of the
change.

Both Pima County Board of Supervisors and the Tucson City Council are developing ordinances
that would raise the age to buy tobacco products from 18 to 21. The American Heart
Association and CityHealth support those efforts.

“Research is unambiguous. Nicotine is one of the most harmful products that can be introduced
into our bodies,” Charlene Grabowski, president of the American Heart Association Southern
Arizona Division Board said. “And while vaping research is still ongoing, teenagers should not be
sold this addictive product.”

“Restricting the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products to those 21 and over scores
among the highest policy proposals OHPI has ever tested,” said Mike Noble, Chief of Research
and Managing Partner of Phoenix-based research company OH Predictive Insights. “Women
drive the popularity, but all age groups and other demographics believe in keeping tobacco out
of the hands of those under 21.”

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Methodology:

City of Tucson - This blended poll was conducted via 45% live and 57% Interactive Voice
Response (IVR). The survey was commissioned by American Heart Association and completed
by OH Predictive Insights on March 8, 2019 to March 11, 2019, from a likely City of Tucson voter
sample. The survey sample was stratified to reflect the population demographics in party
affiliation, gender, region, and age. Weighting was applied to ethnicity. The sample size was 402
completed surveys, with an MoE of ± 4.9%.

Pima County - This blended poll was conducted via 56% live and 44% IVR. The survey was
commissioned by American Heart Association and completed by OH Predictive Insights on
March 8, 2019 to March 11, 2019, from a likely Pima County (excluding the City of Tucson)
voter sample. The survey sample was stratified to reflect the population demographics in party
affiliation, gender, region, and age. Weighting was applied to ethnicity. The sample size was 401
completed surveys, with an MoE of ± 4.89%.

*Numbers may not total 100%, due to rounding

Media Contacts:
Charlene Grabowski, Chair, Southern Arizona Division, American Heart Association,
charlene.grabowski2018@gmail.com, 262-758-0905

Satara Williams, Communications Director, American Heart Association – Arizona,

satara.williams@heart.org, 713-249-4477

Liz Voyles, CityHealth, liz@cityhealth.org, 202-297-9641

Haylye Plaster, OH Predictive Insights, h.plaster@ohpredictive.com, 602-402-5181

The American Heart Association:

The American Heart Association is devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke
– the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund
innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and
information to prevent and treat these diseases. The Dallas-based association is the nation’s
oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. To
learn more or to get involved, call 1-800-AHA-USA1, visit heart.org or call any of our offices
around the country. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

About CityHealth:

CityHealth, an initiative of the de Beaumont Foundation and Kaiser Permanente, advances a

package of evidence-based policy solutions that will help millions of people live longer, better
lives in vibrant, prosperous communities. CityHealth regularly evaluates cities on the number
and strength of their policies.

About OH Predictive Insights

Phoenix-based OH Predictive Insights provides accurate polling, focus groups, data analytics,
and advanced targeted marketing to political and non-political clients alike. With leading
professionals in the advertising, communication, polling and political arenas, OH Predictive
Insights will service political and non-political clients looking to improve their footing on key
stakeholders and consumers. For more information, please call 602-402-5181 or submit a
request online.