(Wampsville, NY – Aug. 2013) Before local schools open their doors for the 2013-2014 academic year, the Madison County Board of Health wants to remind schools, municipalities, law enforcement, and residents of last year’s enactment of two laws that further protect New York’s children and teenagers from the harmful effects of cigarettes.
The laws include measures to prohibit smoking within 100 feet of the entrances or exits of any public or private schools or outdoor areas of public and private schools, (Public Health Law Article 13-E) as well as prohibit the sale of electronic cigarettes to individuals under the age of 18 (Public Health Law Article 13-F).
Prohibiting Smoking Outside School Entrances
Each year there are tens of thousands of deaths in New York related to tobacco use. In addition to smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke may cause various illnesses and is known to be particularly harmful to the health of children who are in their early years of physical development. These two laws will strengthen New York’s protections to help young people avoid nicotine addiction as well as the harmful effects of cigarette smoke.
Enforcement of the distance amendment is the same as with other requirements of the Clean Indoor Air Act (Article 13-E of the Public Health Law). Non-residential property owners adjacent to schools are responsible for making a reasonable effort to enforce applicable smoking restrictions on any portion of their property that is within 100 feet of a school’s legally defined property boundary.
Residences or residential property within the 100 foot perimeter would be excluded from the law’s smoking ban. Smoking continues to be prohibited on school grounds. This law took effect Sept. 5, 2012.
Prohibiting Sale of Electronic Cigarettes to Minors
The majority of Americans who use tobacco products become addicted to the nicotine in those products before reaching 18 years of age. Electronic cigarettes (often known as “e-cigarettes”) are battery-powered devices that allow users to inhale a vaporized liquid nicotine mixture instead of tobacco smoke. E-cigarettes could serve as a pathway for children to become addicted, leading them to smoke cigarettes and use other tobacco products. E-cigarette refill cartridges that are often sold without protective packaging, contain high amounts of nicotine, which could be fatal if accidentally swallowed or ingested by young children. In addition, the FDA has warned that e-cigarettes may contain ingredients known to be toxic to humans or that may otherwise be unsafe.
This law that prohibits the sale of electronic cigarettes to individuals who are less than 18 years of age took effect on Jan. 1, 2013.
For more information about ongoing efforts to reduce smoking and protect kids from tobacco marketing, visit: http://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/tobacco_control/