President Barack Obama, surrounded by members of Congress, and others, signs the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act.

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With a nod to his own struggle with nicotine addiction, President Obama signed a bill Monday giving federal regulators sweeping new powers to scare smokers straight.

"Almost 90% of all smokers began at or before their 18th birthday. I know I was one of these teenagers, and so I know how difficult it can be to break this habit when it's been with you for a long time," said Obama.

Obama gave up cigarettes three years ago at wife Michelle's insistence, but he and White House aides have been cagey about whether he still chews nicotine gum or sneaks the occasional smoke.

The law empowers the Food and Drug Administration to crack down on Big Tobacco's efforts to lure kids into lighting up.

Later this year, the law will take cigarettes with candy, fruit and spice flavors off the shelves for good.

By next spring, tobacco manufacturers will no longer be allowed to sponsor sports and entertainment events under their brand names, nor will they be allowed to sell or give away logo clothing or other items. Distributing free samples of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco will be allowed only in adult-only facilities.

And in 2011, the FDA will be able to order manufacturers to place chilling, stark warning labels on half of the front or half of the back of a pack of cigarettes on the deadly and disabling diseases caused by smoking.

"There is plenty of evidence that graphic warnings in other countries send a message to kids that smoking is not cool," said Matt Myers, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "These pictures can tell of the effects of smoking better than any words ever could."

Tobacco companies fought against such controls for 15 years.

"Their campaign has finally failed," Obama said. "[The law] will force these companies to more clearly and publicly acknowledge the harmful and deadly effects of the products they sell."

Earlier this year, Obama signed a bill increasing the federal cigarette tax from 39 cents to $1.01 a pack, pushing the typical cost in New York City over $10.

Nearly 20% of Americans are smokers. The use of tobacco products kills about 440,000 people a year in the U.S.

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