The ability to promote compliance with a 100% Tobacco-Free Schools policy is an understandable concern for people in districts that are about to go tobacco free, or who are entering their first football season as a 100% tobacco-free district.
Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Tackle Smoking Project recently found that schools with a 100% TFS policy had significantly fewer instances of smoking at high school football games than schools without a 100% TFS policy. They also found that 100% TFS districts where the policy was clearly communicated to spectators had the highest rates of compliance.
UNC researchers further discovered that there is high public support for 100% TFS policies at NC football games. Overall, 76 percent of spectators interviewed at high school football games across the state said they supported a tobacco-free environment at the game. Even smokers (62 percent) said they either supported or had no opinion about the 100% TFS policy.
As noted above, clear communication of the 100% TFS policy is the most important step in ensuring compliance at athletic events. Use the checklist and links below to help promote compliance this football season.