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.

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.

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).

• Smoke and tobacco-free maps and dashboards
• Interactive map from the N.C. State Center for Health Statistics

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 704-614-7805.