NOT TO KIDS!

What is NOT TO KIDS?

Not to Kids! (www.nottokids.ca) is a coalition of Ontario public health agencies working together to keep kids smoke-free. This program encourages the community, tobacco vendors, youth, and schools to take action to keep cigarettes and other tobacco products away from anyone under the age of 19, as per the Smoke-Free Ontario Act that came into effect May 31, 2006.¹  

 The overall goal of Not to Kids! is to eliminate the supply and use of tobacco among young people under 19 years of age, through:

• Community education
• Retailer education and enforcement of the Smoke-Free Ontario Act
• Education to parents, students, staff, and administrators in schools¹

Why is NOT TO KIDS so Important?

 Kids Get Hooked

• Health Canada reports that 85% of current smokers began smoking by the time they were 19 years of age.²
• In Middlesex-London in 2003, 15.9% of 12-19 year olds smoked.³
• If kids have easy access to cigarettes, they are more likely to become addicted.²
• People will smoke for an average of 34 years once hooked to cigarettes.²

 Tobacco Kills!

• There are approximately 4000 chemicals in cigarette smoke, and more than 50 of them are known to cause cancer.
• In Ontario, tobacco is related to 12,000 deaths each year and costs the health care system $1.1 billion.¹

 Youth Access to Tobacco

• Research shows that kids get their tobacco most often from their friends and these social influences are strong factors in whether a kid will start smoking.
• To reduce the opportunity for kids to have access to cigarettes, friends, family, and strangers should not be able to supply cigarettes to those under 19 years of age.¹

What You Can Do:

• If a young person asks you to buy or give them cigarettes (even one), don't do it! You could be charged.
• Do not give cigarettes to anyone under age 19 and do not ask anyone under the age of 19 to buy cigarettes for you. It's against the law!
• Remind vendors to check for identification of age, as individuals must be 19 years of age or older to be sold tobacco.
• Support stores that do not sell cigarettes to kids.
• Report anyone supplying cigarettes to kids under the age of 19 to your local public health agency.¹

Next time a kid asks you for a cigarette - STOP...think about it!

For more information visit the Not To Kids! website at: www.nottokids.ca