Tobacco Use Prevention Activities
Community Health Services
Stearns County developed and passed a Tobacco Ordinance in 1999. As part of this ordinance, the Public Health Division maintains a current database of tobacco vendors, issues licenses to these vendors, and in partnership with the Stearns County Sheriff's Department, assists with the conduction of compliance checks to assure tobacco is not available to the youth of the county. The Stearns County ordinance requires tobacco vendors to obtain a license before selling tobacco products. Vendors who are interested in applying for a license should contact Stearns County Human Services at 320-203-6942.
To view the Stearns County Tobacco Ordinance, please review County Ordinance Number 206 in the Food, Beverage and Lodging Ordinances on our web site.
In 2007, the Minnesota Legislature modified the Minnesota Clean Indoor Air Act. Also known as the Freedom to Breathe Act (FTB), the purpose of this act is to protect employees and the general public from the hazards of secondhand smoke. The FTB Act went into effect on October 1, 2007 and prohibits smoking in public places, public meetings, places of employment, and public transportation.
Questions regarding the Freedom to Breathe Act can be directed to the Stearns County Environmental Services Department or the Stearns County Human Services Public Health Division at 320-203-6942.
For information on quitting smoking, the Freedom to Breathe Act, or the effects of smoking, see:
http://www.quitplan.org
www.smokefreecentralmn.org
www.health.state.mn.us/freedomtobreathe
www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp, the site for the American Cancer Society.
www.lungusa.org, from the oldest and largest anti-smoking organization in the United States. They have many more links to follow.
www.ash.org