The New Legislation Creates “Tobacco Free School Zones”

Kingston, N.Y. – To implement his 2014 State of the County initiative to protect children from the harmful effects of exposure to tobacco products and marketing, Ulster County Executive Mike Hein today introduced a measure known as the “Ulster County Tobacco Free School Zone Law.” 

“An overwhelming majority of Americans who use tobacco products begin smoking while they are adolescents and become addicted before reaching the age of 18,” said County Executive Hein.  “Presently, tobacco companies continue to spend over $2.5 million per day marketing their products, much of it through promotions and displays featured at the stores that our children frequent; and although existing law prohibits the sale of tobacco products to underage people, 20% of our State’s youth purchase their cigarettes from a retail store. For all of these reasons and more, I am acting today to protect our young people.”

Effective January 1, 2016, the proposed Law would require all New York State licensed tobacco retailers in Ulster County to possess a local license issued by the Ulster County Department of Health.  Subject to compliance with all Federal and State laws and other requirements set forth in the proposed law, existing licenses could be transferred from one valid license holder to another doing business at the same location and new licenses could be applied for and granted anywhere in Ulster County, except within designated tobacco free learning zones (within 1000 feet of a public or private school).  The proposed Local Law also calls for enhanced fines, training requirements and possible revocation of licenses for retailers who are found to be responsible for multiple violations of the Adolescent Tobacco Use Prevention Act; a New York State law that prohibits the sale of tobacco products to persons under 18 years of age.

“Smoking and other tobacco use is a leading cause of preventable death in our nation resulting in suffering, death and huge additional health care costs. In a special report marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of warning labels on cigarettes, the Surgeon General of the United States said that even though progress has been made, over 443,000 Americans a year die from tobacco related illnesses. This is unacceptable and we must do more to prevent it,” said Dr. Carol Smith, Ulster County Commissioner of Health and Mental Health.

We applaud County Executive Hein for his proactive approach to preventing the sale of tobacco products to our kids and especially in reducing exposure in and around the places where they learn and socialize. I wholeheartedly support the County Executive in this effort and so do the residents of Ulster County. In fact, our latest survey of Ulster County residents shows that 78% of all adults oppose the sale of tobacco products near schools,” said Ellen Reinhard, Director of Tobacco Free Action Communities in Ulster, Dutchess and Sullivan.

The proposed law now goes before the Ulster County Legislature for consideration.