Most parents would say they hope to keep their children from using tobacco, but do we go far enough in protecting our kids from addictive and deadly tobacco products? We might tell them not to not use tobacco, but we take them into situations, including community festivals, where they are exposed to secondhand smoke, wrong role models, and big-budget tobacco marketing.

As World No Tobacco Day approaches May 31st, let our attention be towards creating an environment where kids can learn the dangers of tobacco and gain the skills to hang tough against marketing and peer pressure. Events like public festivals provide perfect entrées.

Tobacco remains the number one preventable cause of death and the time to prevent it is now. We can insist that organizers of community events adopt a zero-tolerance tobacco policy. This means posting signs and enforcing a smoking and spit tobacco bans on-site at public festivals.

Tobacco use can be prevented, but it won't happen if our children are continually exposed to messages promoting tobacco use. Join Smoke Free Chattanooga in support of tobacco-free policies at Chattanooga's great public festivals. Urge organizers, volunteers, and festival-goers to assure a healthier community by providing an environment all can enjoy. Working together, we will all breathe a little easier.

Copies of the TN Non-Smoker's Protection Act and the power point presentation given by Hugh Atkins on the 25th of September on Implementing the Ban are now available on our website. Please click on Data and Statistics to find this information, and more.