Tobacco is not dangled in front of them as a forbidden fruit. Additionally, effective clean indoor air policies result in fewer adults modeling smoking behavior. Finally, clean indoor air policies focus attention where it needs to be focused on issues of smokers health and nonsmokers rights, not on the issue of age. It is also important to keep in mind that concentrating our efforts on passing effective clean indoor air ordinances is not only a sound strategy for youth tobacco prevention, it is also a means of offering protection to youth. This is because these young workers are heavily concentrated in the food service industry where protections are generally less than those afforded white collar workers.
Youth have the most to gain from clean indoor air policies.
When we survey the efforts of the tobacco control movement, clean indoor air should be in the foreground. That does not mean youth access cannot be a background issue. There are numerous ways to work on reducing youth access that leave the theme of age in the background. Getting rid of vending machines and self-service displays, for example, are useful and effective strategies. Getting rid of tobacco advertising and promotion around schools and other areas frequented by kids is warranted.