How does the Health and Safety Code aim to control tobacco product sales?

The Health and Safety Code plays a crucial role in regulating tobacco product sales primarily by establishing age restrictions and imposing limitations on advertising. These measures are designed to minimize access to tobacco products among minors, who are considered vulnerable to addiction and health risks associated with tobacco use.

By setting age restrictions, the code ensures that individuals below a certain age cannot legally purchase tobacco products, thereby aiming to reduce the initiation of smoking among young people. This is a critical public health strategy to prevent lifelong tobacco dependency and its associated health consequences.

Additionally, the code's advertising limitations play a significant role in controlling how tobacco products are marketed to the public. Restricting advertising, particularly in media that is accessible to younger audiences, helps mitigate the influence and appeal of tobacco products.

In contrast, allowing unlimited advertising and eliminating age restrictions would undermine public health objectives by making tobacco products more accessible and appealing, particularly to youth. Promoting awareness programs targeting tobacco use, while important for education, does not directly regulate the sale and distribution of tobacco products. Thus, the comprehensive approach of the Health and Safety Code is centered on age restrictions and advertising limitations to control tobacco product sales effectively.