Local Youth to Promote "Gen Z and Nic Free" at Spiedie Fest

(BINGHAMTON, NY) - Since the Tobacco Control Program’s inception, the statewide average youth cigarette smoking rate dropped from 27.1% in 2000 to 2.1% in 2020.[i] However, there is more work to be done. 20.8% of NYS high school students still use tobacco products—primarily e-cigarettes at 18.7%.ⁱⁱ  

The fishing trivia game is a fun way for Reality Check youth to expose the lies and manipulation of Big Tobacco and mobilize the community on ways they can protect Gen Z from being the next generation to be hooked by these deadly products.

The Problem:

• One in five New York State high school students still use tobacco products due mostly to the use of e-cigarettes.ⁱⁱⁱ
• More than 80% of young people who ever used tobacco started with a flavored tobacco product.[iv]
• Youth who start smoking and vaping using menthol and flavored products are more likely to become addicted and become long-term daily users. 
• Flavored vapes and flavored tobacco products are banned in New York State but are still being sold in our community. 

The Opportunities:

• Federal law gives state and local governments authority to regulate the sale of tobacco products. 
• New York State law empowers local governments to pass laws to protect the health and well-being of their communities.
• Local laws banning the sale of deadly flavored tobacco products gives local municipalities the authority to enforce those bans.
• What’s more, New Yorkers believe in passing these important public health measures. In a recent survey of New York State residents, most residents surveyed said they support banning menthol cigarettes

• Participants can find out what communities in New York State are doing to reel this in by scanning the QR Code to visit The Public Health Law Center’s site for New York State specific information or by visiting tobaccofreenys.org

Reality Check is an advocacy organization that mobilizes youth against the manipulative tobacco industry by collectively working to educate our communities to help usher in a tobacco free generation.