Residents of Pierce County and across the state have been able to breathe easy because of the smoking in public places law enacted over 10 years ago. In 2016, lawmakers passed a similar law for vaping. Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department wants to help business owners and employers educate the public about these important public health regulations.
The Health Department has unveiled an updated sign with a no smoking and no vaping message. Both activities are illegal indoors or within 25 feet of entryways, doors or windows. At the bottom of the sign are references to the regulations for smoking and vaping.
“We want to make sure everyone knows the law for their protection and safety,” said Miae Aramori, Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Tobacco program manager at Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. “Secondhand smoke and vapor have toxic chemicals that research has proven to be harmful,” Aramori said.
In addition to the new sign, the Health Department uses social media to spread the word about the dangers of smoking and vaping. The number of youth using tobacco products and e-cigarettes is increasing rapidly, with the industry spending billions on advertising. According to the Washington State Healthy Youth Survey, 23% of Pierce County 12th graders and 20% of 10th graders used e-cigarettes in 2014.
The Department created a new youth campaign with the help of Pierce County youth called No Resets, which plays on gaming themes and uses engaging videos, pictures, and stories to help educate youth to make healthy choices and to increase awareness of risks associated with e-cigarettes and vapor products, and to decrease the number of young people who start using tobacco and vapor products. Organizations can host events and order promotional materials; participants can learn facts about alternative tobacco products and earn promotional gear such as t-shirts, ear buds, chargers, chapstick and more.
The Health Department continues to educate adults about the health risks associated with youth vaping with the Think Again Pierce County campaign. The campaign also highlights the new regulations that prohibit sales to minors and possession of vapor products by anyone under 18 years old. Read the regulations at www.tpchd.org/ecigarettes or www.thinkagainpiercecounty.com. Signs, billboards, and TV ads are out now to support both campaigns. You can also download the sign and report violations at www.tpchd.org/tobacco. Learn more about the rules for the sale and use of vapor products at www.tpchd.org/ecigarettes.
Where to Find New No Smoking, No Vaping Signs
Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
Environmental Health Front Counter
3629 S. D St.
Tacoma, WA 98418
Fife City Hall
5411 23rd St. E.
Fife, WA 98424
Orting City Hall
110 Train St. SE
Orting, WA 98360
Bonney Lake Justice and Municipal Center
9002 Main St. E.
Bonney Lake, WA 98391
Gig Harbor City Hall
Main Lobby
3510 Grandview St.
Gig Harbor, WA 98335
Sumner Police Department
1104 Maple St.
Sumner, WA 98390
Edgewood City Hall
2224 104th Ave. E.
Edgewood, WA 98372
Lakewood City Hall
6000 Main St. SW
Lakewood, WA 98499
University Place City Hall
3715 Bridgeport Way W.
University Place, WA 98466
– Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department
