News Release                                                           For immediate release:

                                                                                                                  May 31, 2007

Smoke-Free Ontario - One Year Later

World No Tobacco Day is celebrated annually on May 31, and this year also marks the first anniversary of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act. Smoke-Free Ontario is about protecting workers and the public from second-hand smoke, preventing young people from starting to smoke in the first place and helping people to quit smoking. The legislation protects people from second-hand smoke by prohibiting smoking in enclosed workplace and public places across the province. After an initial “education blitz” from March through July last year, enforcement of the Act began in August, and since then 104 charges have been laid in Grey Bruce:

• 24 individuals charged with selling or supplying tobacco to person under 19,
• 1 tobacco retailer charged under the display section,
• 73 individuals charged with smoking in an enclosed workplace, public place or prohibited place or area (including entrances to public buildings that have an overhanging roof and walls on three sides),
• 6 employers or proprietors charged with failing to ensure compliance with the Act in an enclosed workplace or public place.

Decreasing youth access to tobacco is a major goal of Smoke-Free Ontario. New enforcement strategies are in place including more frequent enforcement checks of tobacco retailers who have a history of selling to under-age youth. The Ministry of Health Promotion may issue automatic prohibitions on the sale of tobacco to retailers who have two convictions for sales to minors.

The Youth Action Alliance is an exciting aspect of the tobacco prevention strategy. This program employs 20 youths as Peer Leaders across Grey Bruce. “Smoke-Free Ontario means the freedom to go where I want without having to worry about second-hand smoke,” says Peer Leader, Deanna Underwood. Peer Leaders and volunteers are holding Smoke-Free Ontario - World No Tobacco Day celebrations at four area high schools today.

Helping Ontarians break the cycle of tobacco addiction has been a key part of the Smoke-Free Ontario strategy. The STOP Study (Stop Smoking Therapy for Ontario Patients), administered through Public Health, provides participants who are ready to quit with 10 weeks of free nicotine replacement therapy products. Since June 2006, Public Health Nurses have screened 313 people in Grey Bruce for the study. The program has recently been extended until the end of December 2007. Eligible participants are still being accepted.

For further information call Public Health at 519-376-9420 or visit our web site at www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca.

Attachments: Smoke-Free Ontario Strategy Backgrounder



For more information:
 

Linda Davies
Manager, Tobacco Control
Grey Bruce Health Unit
519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext. 410