News Release                   For Immediate Release

 December 18, 2003

Public Health Joins “Not To Kids” Coalition 

The local public health unit has become a member of the Not To Kids (NTK) Coalition.  NTK is a group of 15 health service boards from across the province that work together to implement a comprehensive tobacco strategy that includes education and enforcement.   The purpose of Not To Kids is to reduce the sale and supply of tobacco products to youth less than 19 years of age.  The NTK coalition develops and provides educational resources for tobacco retailers, schools, youth and the community.  Program Manager Lou D’Alessandro states, “ Membership in the NTK coalition will improve the quality of educational materials that are available to us.”

Enforcement and Education Officers with Public Health recently completed the annual tobacco retailer compliance monitoring survey.   The survey monitors the illegal sale of tobacco products to youth less than 19 years of age.  The 2003 survey showed a decline in retailer compliance from previous years at 87%.  Gas bars and convenience stores had the poorest compliance results. 

 D’Alessandro states, “ Officers are available to provide educational workshops to any tobacco retailer and their staff.  These two-hour workshops are offered to all retailers who fail a compliance check and we find that those retailers who take advantage of this educational opportunity rarely fail in the next round of enforcement checks.  Retailer training videos are available from the officers and soon a Not To Kids retailer training binder will be available as well.”

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

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For more information:

Lou D’Alessandro

Program Manager

Grey Bruce Health Unit

519-376-9420