This post was sponsored by Tobacco Free New York State as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central and all opinions expressed in my post are my own.
I have vivid memories of going to a restaurant and the table next to us would be smoking cigarettes. It was the norm to be trying to eat and yet choking on cigarette smoke as well. As a mom, that is something I can’t begin to imagine exposing my kids to.
It was only during my college years that laws started changing, and now there is no smoking in establishments in New York, and visible advertising has decreased. Now that I have kids of my own, it is especially important to me that my kids are not exposed to secondhand smoke or influenced by advertising. The Tobacco Free New York State “Seen Enough Tobacco” initiative works to combat tobacco marketing for children. I remember seeing ads everywhere as a kid, and it is nice to know that there are efforts being made to reduce advertise. Kids are really impressionable, and they don’t need to see ads everywhere.
Here’s a scary fact: the average age of a new smoker in New York State is 13 years old. My daughter is 12, and middle school is such a crazy time where kids try new things and are exposed to many influences. They are making choices and dealing with peer pressure. Not only do you have traditional cigarettes, but now e-cigarettes have become so popular. E-cigarette use has grown over 160% among high school students in past years.
I am fortunate that my kids are not exposed to smoking in our family, and we we love exploring the great outdoors. I grew up in a non-smoking household, and none of our other family members smoked, so it was just something you never thought about or considered. As a family, we love being outside, being active and healthy. It is important to me that we foster good choices for our kids.
You can help get tobacco ads out of sight from our kids and families. That’s why I have signed the “Seen Enough Tobacco” pledge – to help make New York State a healthier place to live, work and play. Our kids shouldn’t have to be exposed to tobacco advertising!
Click here for “Seen Enough Tobacco” petition
and help make New York a healthier place to live, work and play!
Check out the Tobacco Free New York State sites for more information:
- Tobacco Free New York State Site: http://www.tobaccofreenys.org/
- Tobacco Free New York State Facebook: http://lwww.facebook.com/tobaccofreenys
- Tobacco Free New York State Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/tobaccofreenys
- Tobacco Free New York State Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/tobaccofreenys
This is a great post. My mother was a smoker and I remember going to school smelling like smoke and hating it. Now the smell of cigarettes gives me a headache. I teach my kids what I can, but the influences around them from advertisements and peers is a big thing. Nice to see New York stepping it up.
Fortunately, my family has always smoked little and my parents are non-smokers because I have always actively participated in all anti-smoking campaigns!
I really applaud our state for stepping up to rid the influences of smoking in our kids. I think it’s a great initiative and I hope to see it continue making changes.
This is such a great pledge! I also grew up in a smoke-free house, and it makes such a big difference. Good luck with the initiative!
Smoking was one of the habits that had on and off and nowadays can’t even fathom going back.
This is a great post and that ice cream truck looks like a great campaign to gain attention! California needs to step up the game over here!
This sounds like a great initiative. I’m so glad the UK brought in laws to stop people smoking in pubs and restaurants.
What a great way o raise awareness to have a smoke free community. Hope every state will have their movement to make this happen.
Honestly, I am living in a family where everyone smokes including me. I myself know the fact that is very harmful and I would like to take my first step to stop.
it will be interesting to see how well this campaign does. pretty impressive!
yessss and 100% yessss!!! Make NYC tobacco free. I wish this campaign all success. Amazing.
This is such a great campaign. Everybody knows how tobacco can harm our bodies. Thank you!
I agree. I don’t smoke so I think this is a really great idea. Hope this campaign works out!
I I’ve in California, so we’ve been smoke free for a looong time. But I used to live in London, where EVERYBODY smoked! I don’t understand how anyone can smoke now days!
This is a great initiative. NC has been smoke-free about 10 years ago (maybe longer) and I’m very appreciative. My parents never smoked, but all of their siblings did. I hope younger children will be less exposed to tobacco and e-cigs.
It’s very helpful to influence kids to make good choices. It’s much easier to not ever start something than to try to stop a bad habit later. Great post!
This is so important to keep kids tobacco free! Such a great initiative.
This seems to be a great initiative! I hate the smell of cigarettes. Like you, I also grew up in a non-smoking house-hold so can relate to your thoughts!
This blog post was super eye-opening. I had no idea that the average age of a new smoker was 13. 13!!! That’s insane.
Nice reading about the tips on the initiatives to maintain tobacco free New York State and the way we should help it so that we can create a healthy and strong place around.
This is such a great campaign. I am very fortunate that I grew up in a smoke-free home and so have my children.
When I grew up, smoking was everywhere, it was on television, it was at school, it was in my home. It was normalized so maybe making it harder to see is the way to make this the generation that ends smoking, I love that idea.
That’s such a wild thought that thirteen year olds could be smoking. I mean, I understand it’s reality but it’s just so absurd to imagine to me. I’m glad the world is evolving and that you can begin to feel safe with your children!
I’m happy to see the effort local governments are making to make places smoke free. I heard on our local news that our town will be implementing a $3 tax on packs of cigarettes! I honestly never see tobacco campaigns anywhere so I think we’re all moving in the right direction.
Wow such a great initiative! Really trying to get my husband to quit smoking. The UK has some catching up to do.
It’s scary to think how much kids are exposed to all this. Even just through the air they breathe.
This is such a powerful message for families to better understand the changes that need to be made in surrounding communities. Great initiative overall.
I have a 13-year-old and I informed her that smoking is bad. I told her it’s not worth having a friend who peers pressure you in doing something that would risk her own health. Japan should follow this law too, it was a shocker that they still have people smoking in the restaurant while eating and exposing second-hand smoke to my young ones was a very unpleasant dining experience.
Cynthia | PEONY IN LOVE
Such a great idea, I have never been a smoker, I think the smell is horrible.
This is a great idea I think! I grew up with smoking everywhere and I wish it wouldn’t have been like that. I had my pediatrician tell me that her 14-year-old had classmates bringing the VUSE (or whatever it is) to school with them! I hope initiatives like this work and help keep young children from smoking.
Very good post and very good initiative. Smoking is a curse. I completely hate it. I feel sorry for those who are unable to quit.
This is a great post. We don’t have smokers in our immediate family but there are so many in our community. I Have an 11-year-old and I try to make her see the side effects of smoking so that she is not tempted.
So exciting that New York is doing this! We do the same here in Ontario (Canada), which makes a world of a difference when in public spaces.
As a resident of New York State I can also say that smoking has decreased since the state banned smoking in most places.
I really appreciate you supporting this movement. It is so important for our youth that we teach them the truth and that we keep tobacco out of public areas!
This is such a great campaign and I am so happy that now people are paying attention about it. Everyone of us should be unite for this movement not only for us sake but also for the sake of our kids and of the future generations.
My apartment building is going smoke free. So exciting that New York is doing this, it’s a great campaign! I don’t judge other people’s sources but this is one that affects everyone around you
I am so happy my kids were not exposed to smoking or cigarettes also. I remember as a child being burnt by a cigarette that a lady was walking around with.
This is a worthy pledge! When I see kids / teens smoking, I want to stop and talk to them. I used to do that, but now, so many things have become a confrontation, I don’t anymore. It would be good to help kids not get tempted when they are too young to realize how bad it is.