TAKE ACTION
1. Limit Secondhand Smoke with Smoke-Free Environments
Secondhand smoke exposure is proven to be harmful at any level. California used to have some of the strongest laws in the nation to protect people from harmful secondhand smoke exposure. However, these state laws mostly focus on workplaces and other indoor areas.
Cities and counties have the explicit authority to go beyond state law and enact secondhand smoke restrictions in outdoor areas.
Smoke-free Housing
There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. People living in apartments or condominiums (multi-unit housing) are at greater risk of exposure to smoke drifting from neighbors. Smoke-free housing protects your health, and is a sound investment for landlords and property managers. For more information, visit our local Tobacco Control website.
Tobacco-free Colleges
Because of the effectiveness of tobacco-free policies on college campuses, the number of tobacco-free campuses has grown nationwide.
2. Reduce Youth Access to Tobacco
To lower smoking prevalence in our community, it is important to reduce the availability and sale of tobacco products to minors under the age of 21.
Local tobacco retail licensing policies are the best means of reducing illegal tobacco sales to minors and addressing unique challenges faced by each community. Local fees help communities fund enforcement of minimum age-of-sale laws. Local level licensing laws helps communities respond to emerging trends in the tobacco retail environment, such as the rising popularity of e-cigarettes. For an overview to applicable laws governing local tobacco sales please see the SLO County Tobacco Retailer Compliance Checklist.
Learn more about how laws can affect tobacco sales in California.
3. Promote Quitting Tobacco
Support local programs and organizations that help community members quit their tobacco addiction. Telephone counseling, self-help materials, and group counseling sessions are available for those who need resources and support.
4. Get Involved in Local Efforts
Join us—the SLO County Tobacco Control Coalition (TCC)—to get involved in local efforts to prevent tobacco use. Sign up for our monthly newsletter to stay up to date on local, state, and federal tobacco issues.