Orange County Tobacco Education Coalition

POLICY PLATFORM
(Revised: August, 2008)

The Orange County Tobacco Education Coalition, as an organized body, will promote or support those tobacco control laws and regulations that are consistent with its Policy Platform.

In addition, the Coalition will support State and Federal tobacco control regulations consistent with its policy platform that contain anti-preemption language (which permits local jurisdictions to pass stronger policies).

The following position statements reflect the Policy Platform of the Orange County Tobacco Education Coalition (OCTEC).  This is a guide for Coalition members to decide whether to “promote” (proactively seek passage and/ or enforcement of a tobacco policy/law), or to “support” (upon request, to assist other community groups in the passage or enforcement of a policy/law).

The Coalition promotes policies that will directly help to achieve its goal of reducing the prevalence of tobacco use and its harmful effects in Orange County, that are realistic in terms of community readiness and staff/volunteer commitment.

The Coalition supports policies that represent effective steps in helping to achieve its goal; the Coalition will also support policies that are designed to reduce tobacco use prevalence and its harmful effects.

This platform will be reviewed on an annual basis, between January and March, to incorporate new endeavors, update status and priorities of policy issues, and revise language as needed.

PRIORITY AREAS OF CONCERN:

SECONDHAND TOBACCO SMOKE  AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT (butts)
YOUTH ACCESS TO TOBACCO
REDUCING PRO-TOBACCO INFLUENCES (e.g. Hollywood and tobacco; outdoor advertising; 18-24 targeting)
POINT OF PURCHASE ADVERTISING
TOBACCO TAX INCREASES
REDUCING ALTERNATIVE TOBACCO SOURCES – RATS (e.g. Hookah)

SECONDHAND TOBACCO SMOKE and ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

A.    Promote passage of City, State, and County indoor and outdoor smokefree workplace ordinances which strengthen the California Smokefree Workplace Law, as well as voluntary business smokefree policies (such as smokefree hotel lobbies and restaurant outdoor patio areas.)

B.    Promote full implementation and fair enforcement, in all Orange County cities, of the California Smokefree Workplace Law and other related policies, including hookah, cigar, and tobacco store lounges/bars.

C.        Support a 20-foot minimum “smokefree zone” from doorway entrances on public and private commercial property, and support ordinances and voluntary policies that put designated smoking areas out of the lane of passage into buildings and businesses.

D.     Promote the passage of local, county, and State voluntary policies for smokefree outdoor areas, such as beaches and parks, college campuses, and smokefree hospital and medical facility properties.

E.    Promote enforcement of California Health and Safety Code 104495 (smokefree       playground areas) in all Orange County cities, and additional local and State laws which expand smokefree outdoor areas.

Rationale:    Full implementation protects everyone equally and provides a level playing field for businesses.  Local ordinances strengthen and clarify laws, reduce “gray” areas, make enforcement easier and further protect employees and patrons.  Voluntary policies can further limit the harm of drifting secondhand smoke, which the Air Resources Board has classified as a toxic air contaminant…

F.  Promote the concept of smokefree multi-unit housing (in apartments and condos), as well as smokefree common areas in those developments.

Rationale:      People should be protected from secondhand smoke in their own homes as they can be more chronically exposed to tobacco smoke there than anywhere else and otherwise can do nothing to protect themselves and their families from harm and exacerbation of existing medical problems.

G.    Promote ordinances and policies to obtain maximum public cooperation to prevent toxic cigarette and cigar butt litter in public areas.

Rationale:    Educating the public about the toxic effect of tobacco butts in parks, on sidewalks and streets, and at beaches will help to improve water quality, reduce secondhand smoke, tobacco material pollution, harm to children and wildlife, and reduce risk of wildfires and other damage.
YOUTH ACCESS TO TOBACCO:
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A. Support full enforcement of SB 757 and 1173 (no self-serve of cigarettes, cigars,      pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, no bidis, and no single cigarettes) in Orange County.

Rationale:  Compliance with the SB 757 and 1173 will encourage more business responsibility and be one additional way to reduce the likelihood of teens obtaining tobacco.

B.    Promote laws that prohibit the tobacco sales to minors, which include requirements for STAKE Act signs, checking for proper ID, retail store licensing, fining owners for violations, and resource allocation  for enforcement.
Promote full enforcement of existing laws.

Rationale: Complete implementation of existing laws, improved community education and enforcement, and additional laws to ensure business responsibility will all help to limit the availability of tobacco products to minors.

C.    Support laws that prohibit the buying or use of tobacco by minors, including stronger merchant education and enforcement and enforcing the law with minors, including using alternative programs.

Rationale: Parents and minors will give the issue of tobacco use more attention if a probable fine or other sentence is involved.  Community service or tobacco education programs are positive alternatives to fining.  The deterrent can help keep teens from smoking in public view.

D.      Support laws that completely ban the sale of tobacco products through vending machines in the remaining exempted bars and adult-only clubs.
Support full enforcement of these laws in any location.

Rationale: Current California law bans tobacco vending machines, except in places where minors are not permitted.  Seven Orange County cities have enacted local ordinances banning cigarette vending machines anywhere. There is evidence showing that minors are able to obtain cigarettes from vending machines placed in bars.

E.    Promote laws that mandate strengthening of a permit or license for entities to sell tobacco.

Rationale: With about 25% of entities (including catering coaches, donut shops, and push carts) illegally selling tobacco to minors, this tool will reinforce the importance of complying and should bring improved cooperation.

REDUCING PRO-TOBACCO INFLUENCES

Promote adoption of policies that reduce the incidences of tobacco in the Media and promote protocols for countering pro-tobacco influences.

Rationale:   The number one risk factor influencing teens to smoke is exposure to tobacco in the movies, television, and video games.  Youth with the highest exposure to smoking are nearly 3 times more likely to start smoking than those with the least exposure.

Support the enforcement of laws that prohibit the free distribution of tobacco products to adults or minors on property open to the public.

Rationale: Free samples encourage non-smoking adults or minors to try tobacco, beginning the addiction process; it also provides another avenue for minors to obtain cigarettes.

Support the advocacy of policies that would reduce or eliminate non-tobacco “lookalike” products and accessories as well as tobacco company promotions and incentives that normalize or glamorize tobacco use.

Rationale: “Lookalike” products, including candy cigarettes, lighters that look like toys, promote tobacco use and acceptance.

Support activities that reduce tobacco marketing and events to 18-24 year olds.

POINT OF PURCHASE ADVERTISING:

Support laws that prohibit point of purchase tobacco advertising from being  placed within 3 feet of the floor and / or in close proximity to youth-oriented products (including, but not limited to candy, toys, and video games).

Support laws that prohibit all point of purchase tobacco advertising.

Support laws that call for stronger and more effective warning labels on tobacco packaging, and restrictions on the style and wording of the packaging of advertisements.

Support enforcement of laws and regulations that require individual cigar products to have label warnings about its harmful effects, similar to cigarettes.

Rationale:    Minors are bombarded daily by tobacco advertisements and promotions when they enter convenience stores, liquor stores and other vendors to buy candy, sodas, etc.  If advertisements are reduced or eliminated, the impact on children would be reduced.

TOBACCO TAX INCREASES

Support laws that increase tobacco taxes.

Rationale: Increased cost will discourage minors from purchasing tobacco, will help people who smoke to reduce their consumption and to quit, will support tobacco control and other health programs, and help with the medical costs of treating people who smoke.  Nationally, California tobacco taxes are only “in the middle of the pack”.

REDUCING ALTERNATIVE TOBACCO SOURCES  (RATS)

Promote laws and policies that educate to 18-24 year olds that hookah is tobacco, that restrict hookah lounges/bars where feasible, and ensure that they are in compliance with the California Smokefree Workplace Law.

Rationale:    Hookah is currently seeing a surge of popularity as a perceived tobacco alternative, and could lead to an increase in other forms of smoking and increased prevalence.

DISCLAIMER:

The Orange County Tobacco Education Coalition Policy Platform represents consensus of members of the Coalition, but does not necessarily reflect the opinions of its individual member organizations.

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