Tulsa County's TSET Launches Youth Tobacco Access Curbing Initiative
Tulsa County's TSET Healthy Living Program is launching a new initiative to curb youth access to tobacco. The program aims to educate retailers and enforce age restrictions, following community feedback that highlights the need for action.
Starting mid-October, youth volunteers will visit local stores to assess retailer compliance with age restrictions. Minors caught using or possessing tobacco products will now attend a tobacco addiction course instead of facing fines. Retailers who refuse to sell to minors will be acknowledged and thanked, while those who sell to minors may face fines from state officials and local law enforcement.
The program is a multi-faceted strategy to improve Tulsa County residents' health and wellness. It is working with local state agencies and partner organizations funded by the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET). The initiative responds to the alarming statistic that nearly nine in 10 smokers in the U.S. tried their first cigarette before age 18, with 9.1% of Oklahoma high school students smoking and 27.8% vaping.
The TSET Healthy Living Program's efforts to reduce youth access to tobacco are crucial in preventing nicotine addiction among adolescents. By educating retailers and enforcing age restrictions, the program aims to create a healthier future for Tulsa County residents.
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