TOBACCO-FREE SPACES
Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation
Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation (TFYR) assists communities in their efforts to create a commercial tobacco-free environment and promote commercial tobacco-free lifestyles. The program helps youth and adult community members partner with policy makers to implement recreation-based commercial tobacco prevention strategies.
TFYR's Focus
A primary focus of TFYR’s work is to assist Minnesota communities in adopting commercial tobacco-free policies for their parks, playgrounds, athletic fields and other outdoor recreational facilities.
More than 150 Minnesota communities have created commercial tobacco-free recreation areas for their residents and visitors. To view a directory of Minnesota’s tobacco-free parks, zoos, fairgrounds and other recreation areas, visit the TFYR policy directory.
Tobacco-Free Parks Policy Resources
TFYR has policy implementation and promotion materials for community groups and policy makers. These materials are intended to assist efforts to create and promote commercial tobacco-free environments in your community.
Commercial Tobacco-Free Policies for Other Outdoor Spaces in Minnesota
Although TFYR has traditionally focused on commercial tobacco-free policies for recreational areas, the program also assists communities with tobacco-free policies for other outdoor spaces such as:
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School grounds
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Fair grounds
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Public grounds (such as city- or county-owned property)
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Employer grounds
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Healthcare facility grounds
A number of resources exist for communities interested in implementing commercial tobacco-free policies for their outdoor spaces. Contact Emily Anderson, emily@ansrmn.org, for these resources or more information.
Tobacco-Free Campuses
Commercial tobacco use and exposure remain a problem on college campuses. Commercial tobacco-free college campus policies are proven solutions that provide a healthier learning, living and working environment for students, faculty, staff and visitors.
Through our Tobacco-Free Campus program, ANSR promotes the adoption of commercial tobacco-free policies at colleges and universities in Ramsey County.
For more information contact Emily Anderson, Tobacco-Free Campus Program Director, at emily@ansrmn.org or
651-646-3005.
A Growing Trend
According to Americans for Nonsmokers’ Rights, as of October 2023, there are at least 2,613 100% smoke-free campuses in the US. Of these, 2,193 are 100% commercial tobacco-free and 2,284 prohibit the use of e-cigarettes anywhere on campus. For a full listing of smoke- and commercial tobacco-free campuses across the country, click here.
Step 1: Getting Started
Building the case for a commercial tobacco-free campus
A commercial tobacco-free policy prohibits smoking and the use of smokeless tobacco products on all school properties and in all school-owned or leased vehicles. A comprehensive tobacco use policy also prohibits the sale of tobacco products on campus, tobacco advertisements in school publications and tobacco company sponsorship of school programs and events.
Tobacco-Free Campus Policies Increase Quit Attempts
Tobacco-Free Campus Policies Decrease Tobacco Use and Initiation
Tobacco-Free Campus Policies Reduce Exposure to Tobacco
Tobacco-Free Campus Policies Decrease Tobacco Litter
Tobacco-Free Campus Policies Eliminate Ties to the Tobacco Industry
Tobacco-Free Campus Policies Prepare Students for a Tobacco-Free Workplace
Step 2: Moving Forward
Steps for adopting a commercial tobacco-free policy
Many post-secondary institutions have successfully implemented commercial tobacco-free campus policies. While each campus is unique, these basic steps can lead towards policy success. Here are the most common guiding principles:
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Focus on the tobacco use, not the tobacco user. Focus on health and safety regarding secondhand smoke, not individual rights.
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Obtain campus leadership support and make this support visible to all members of the campus community.
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Convene a monthly committee comprised of a diverse group of campus stakeholders.
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Complete a commercial tobacco-free campus opinion survey of students, faculty and staff.
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Complete an environmental assessment to determine smoking “hot spots” and the amount of tobacco litter on campus.
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Develop a draft policy statement and share with institution stakeholders.
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Allow ample time between the announcement of the new policy to the effective date for a thorough and supportive communication plan, including posting new policy signage.
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Provide training for supervisors on policy communication and enforcement.
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Offer tobacco cessation resources to all students, faculty and staff before and after the policy change.
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Enforce the commercial tobacco-free campus policy just like the previous no-smoking policy: through education.
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Celebrate! The policy is a positive step towards a healthier, cleaner campus!
Many campuses have successfully carried out a policy development process. The University of Minnesota’s smoke- and tobacco-free policy development began in 2008, and the policy was formally adopted in 2014. Learn more about the process here.
Step 3: Achieving Success
Implementing and promoting a commercial tobacco-free campus policy
While adopting a commercial tobacco-free campus policy is an important step towards a healthier, cleaner campus, proper implementation and enforcement of your policy plus tobacco cessation services are key to policy success.
Communication
Enforcement
Cessation
Smoke-Free Lodging
The Smoke-Free Lodging program promotes 100% smoke-free policies for lodging establishments. In order to increase the number of lodging establishments with smoke-free policies, Smoke-Free Lodging educates tourism industry professionals, lodging managers, owners and key staff about the benefits of 100% smoke-free buildings. Smoke-Free Lodging also assists lodging establishment owners and managers with creating and promoting smoke-free policies for their properties.