Tobacco Free Campus Sign at University in United States

Tobacco-Free Policy

More Information about Tobacco-Free Policy

A powerful strategy to reduce tobacco use is to adopt tobacco-free environments, especially in public places. There is clear evidence (CDC, The Community Guide, Public Health Law Center, Americans for Non-Smokers Rights) that tobacco-free environments reduce exposure to secondhand smoke, keep youth from starting using tobacco, and help current tobacco users who are trying to quit.

Did you know...?

There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand or thirdhand smoke.
An electronic-cigarette is classified as a tobacco product.
Secondhand aerosol from vaping (electronic-cigarettes) is not "clean water vapor."
70% of tobacco users have tried to quit in the past year.
Tobacco-free policies are enforced through effective communication, signage, and quit support.

Tobacco-Free Initiatives, Policies, and Laws

N.C. Smoke-Free Restaurants and Bars

N.C. Smoke-Free Multi-Unit Housing

Tobacco-Free Colleges in N.C.

Greater Charlotte Apartment Association (GCAA) Smoke-Free Certification

Tobacco-Free Worksites

Holy Ground: Creating Tobacco-Free Faith Community Places of Worship Including Grounds - This guide can help any worship community develop a smoke-free or tobacco-free policy.

Tobacco-Free Environments – Regulatory Options at the Local Level

North Carolina county governments and municipalities have the authority to restrict smoking and tobacco use in their buildings, in their government owned vehicles, on their grounds (including government-owned parks), and inside public places (where members of the public are invited or permitted to enter).

Learn more about smoke-free and tobacco-free regulatory options for N.C. communities from N.C. Tobacco Prevention and Control.

For local technical assistance in advocacy, development, and implementation of tobacco-free policies, contact the Mecklenburg County Public Health tobacco control team at 704-572-1979.

Mecklenburg County has two tobacco-related regulations:

Smoke-Free Government Grounds Board of Health Rule requiring all government owned buildings, vehicles, and property to be smoke-free. This includes the County, City of Charlotte and six towns.
Tobacco-Free Parks County Ordinance- prohibits smoking, smokeless tobacco, and e-cigarettes in all county parks, greenways, and park properties, with a few exceptions for 18 large regional parks and county-run golf courses.