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TOBACCO-FREE SPACES

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Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation

Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation (TFYR) assists communities in their efforts to create a commercial tobacco-free environment and promote commercial tobacco-free lifestyles. The program helps youth and adult community members partner with policy makers to implement recreation-based commercial tobacco prevention strategies.

TFYR's Focus

A primary focus of TFYR’s work is to assist Minnesota communities in adopting commercial tobacco-free policies for their parks, playgrounds, athletic fields and other outdoor recreational facilities.

More than 150 Minnesota communities have created commercial tobacco-free recreation areas for their residents and visitors. To view a directory of Minnesota’s tobacco-free parks, zoos, fairgrounds and other recreation areas, visit the TFYR policy directory.

Tobacco-Free Parks Policy Resources

TFYR has policy implementation and promotion materials for community groups and policy makers. These materials are intended to assist efforts to create and promote commercial tobacco-free environments in your community.

Policy Publicity Packet

Has your community recently adopted a commercial tobacco-free policy for its park and recreational facilities? Use TFYR’s Policy Publicity Packet for ideas on how to communicate the new policy to community members. A well-publicized policy helps reduce policy violations.

Playing Tobacco Free Factsheet

This factsheet provides information on why communities should have commercial tobacco-free policies for outdoor recreational facilities.

A Policy Maker’s Guide to Tobacco-Free Policies for Parks, Playgrounds and Athletic Facilities

This guide is intended to provide local policy makers information on how this type of policy can benefit their community.

Model Tobacco-Free Parks Policy

TTFYR created this model policy language with assistance from the Public Health Law Center. It has been adopted and implemented by communities throughout Minnesota.

Playing Tobacco-Free: A Youth Guide for Policy Advocacy

A step-by-step approach to commercial tobacco-free park policies for youth advocates. TFYR uses this guide to train youth groups on park policy advocacy. Contact us to schedule a training session.

Commercial Tobacco-Free Policies for Other Outdoor Spaces in Minnesota

Although TFYR has traditionally focused on commercial tobacco-free policies for recreational areas, the program also assists communities with tobacco-free policies for other outdoor spaces such as:

  • School grounds

  • Fair grounds

  • Public grounds (such as city- or county-owned property)

  • Employer grounds

  • Healthcare facility grounds

A number of resources exist for communities interested in implementing commercial tobacco-free policies for their outdoor spaces. Contact Emily Anderson, emily@ansrmn.org, for these resources or more information.

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Tobacco-Free Campuses

Commercial tobacco use and exposure remain a problem on college campuses. Commercial tobacco-free college campus policies are proven solutions that provide a healthier learning, living and working environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors.

 

Through our Tobacco-Free Campus program, ANSR promotes the adoption of commercial tobacco-free policies at colleges and universities in Ramsey County.

 

For more information contact Emily Anderson, Tobacco-Free Campus Program Director, at emily@ansrmn.org or 

651-646-3005.

A Growing Trend

According to Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, as of October 2023, there are at least 2,613 100% smoke-free campuses in the US. Of these, 2,193 are 100% commercial tobacco-free and 2,284 prohibit the use of e-cigarettes anywhere on campus. For a full listing of smoke- and commercial tobacco-free campuses across the country, click here.

Step 1: Getting Started

Building the case for a commercial tobacco-free campus

 

A commercial tobacco-free policy prohibits smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco products on all school properties and in all school-owned or leased vehicles. A comprehensive tobacco use policy also prohibits the sale of tobacco products on campus, tobacco advertisements in school publications and tobacco company sponsorship of school programs and events.

Tobacco-Free Campus Policies Increase Quit Attempts

Tobacco-Free Campus Policies Decrease Tobacco Use and Initiation

Tobacco-Free Campus Policies Reduce Exposure to Tobacco

Tobacco-Free Campus Policies Decrease Tobacco Litter

Tobacco-Free Campus Policies Eliminate Ties to the Tobacco Industry

Tobacco-Free Campus Policies Prepare Students for a Tobacco-Free Workplace

Step 2: Moving Forward

Steps for adopting a commercial tobacco-free policy

Many post-secondary institutions have successfully implemented commercial tobacco-free campus policies. While each campus is unique, these basic steps can lead towards policy success. Here are the most common guiding principles:

  • Focus on the tobacco use, not the tobacco user. Focus on health and safety regarding secondhand smoke, not individual rights.

  • Obtain campus leadership support and make this support visible to all members of the campus community.

    • Convene a monthly committee comprised of a diverse group of campus stakeholders.

    • Complete a commercial tobacco-free campus opinion survey of students, faculty and staff.

    • Complete an environmental assessment to determine smoking “hot spots” and the amount of tobacco litter on campus.

    • Develop a draft policy statement and share with institution stakeholders.

  • Allow ample time between the announcement of the new policy to the effective date for a thorough and supportive communication plan, including posting new policy signage.

  • Provide training for supervisors on policy communication and enforcement.

  • Offer tobacco cessation resources to all students, faculty and staff before and after the policy change.

  • Enforce the commercial tobacco-free campus policy just like the previous no-smoking policy: through education.

  • Celebrate! The policy is a positive step towards a healthier, cleaner campus!

 

Many campuses have successfully carried out a policy development process. The University of Minnesota’s smoke- and tobacco-free policy development began in 2008, and the policy was formally adopted in 2014. Learn more about the process here.

Step 3: Achieving Success

Implementing and promoting a commercial tobacco-free campus policy

While adopting a commercial tobacco-free campus policy is an important step towards a healthier, cleaner campus, proper implementation and enforcement of your policy plus tobacco cessation services are key to policy success.

Communication

Enforcement

Cessation

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Smoke-Free Lodging

The Smoke-Free Lodging program promotes 100% smoke-free policies for lodging establishments. In order to increase the number of lodging establishments with smoke-free policies, Smoke-Free Lodging educates tourism industry professionals, lodging managers, owners and key staff about the benefits of 100% smoke-free buildings. Smoke-Free Lodging also assists lodging establishment owners and managers with creating and promoting smoke-free policies for their properties.

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2395 University Ave. W, Suite 310

Saint Paul, MN 55114


Office: 651-646-3005 

Fax: 651-646-0142

Email: info@ansrmn.org

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ABOUT US

In 1975, ANSR helped pass the nation’s first comprehensive state clean indoor air legislation. Since then, ANSR has continued to play a leading role in shaping tobacco policy and has been involved in every major state-wide policy, such as the Freedom to Breathe Act in 2007 and raising the tobacco tax in 2013. ANSR helped Minneapolis and Saint Paul restrict the sales of flavored tobacco, including menthol, and also helped Edina become the first Minneapolis city to raise the tobacco sales age to 21.

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