The Tobacco Free Partnership of Clay County would like to thank the Clay County Fair for their efforts to continue to promote a smoke/vape free fair event with smoking in designated areas only. The Clay County fair has thousands of visitors each year and by having a tobacco/vape free event they are promoting a healthier lifestyle and setting examples to the younger generations for years to come.

Tobacco free events promote a healthy culture for everyone in attendance, protect our families from deadly second hand smoke, remove temptation for people who have quit using tobacco/vape products, also provides a place to show children who may be exposed to smoking daily, that smoking is the exception and not the norm. Tobacco free events are more accessible to people who suffer from asthma, cancer, or other diseases that are negatively affected by tobacco products.

A 2012 study on hospitality workers health was performed using 45 studies of 33 different smoke free laws, with an average follow up time of 24 months. It showed that comprehensive smoke free laws were associated with lower hospital admission rates, lower death rates, fewer coronary events by 8%, other forms of heart disease by 6%, fewer cerebrovascular accidents (strokes) by 8%, and respiratory disease by 8%. In another study of hospitality workers by the Community of Preventative Services, they concur with the previous study mentioned, while also stating that smoke free policies have not had an adverse impact on businesses such as bars and restaurants.

Tobacco free environments save in cleanup and costs because there would be no cigarette butts, vaping products, or dip cans to clean up, and this would also reduce the possible risk of fire due to cigarette butts being dropped on the ground or being placed in a trash can while still lit.

Most people prefer tobacco free environments and feel that smoking should at least be kept to a designated smoking area. Studies have also shown that the safest and healthiest events are those that prohibit the use of all forms of tobacco/vape products and it has been concluded in worldwide studies by health authorities that there is no safe level of secondhand smoke.

Secondhand smoke causes lung cancer, stroke, heart disease, low birth weight, sudden infant death syndrome, serious respiratory conditions, and premature death. In conclusion, best practice would be a 100% smokeless environment. If there is zero tolerance it makes enforcement much easier. There would be no worries about enforcing tobacco use outside of designated areas because it’s stated beforehand that the event is tobacco free with zero tolerance therefore, no gray area to debate.

For more information please contact the Tobacco Free Partnership at jmoritz@quitdoc.com to help make your next event become a smoke/vape free event.