1. Youth Access
2. Advertising (in publicly visible locations and inside stores)
3. Promotion
4. Smoke Free Laws (public places and vending machines)
5. Sales to Minors Rates (nothing here yet)
6. Model Ordinance (to assist cities and counties considering enacting tobacco control ordinances)
7. Report Card (rating local communities on their youth access to tobacco regulations)
8. Law Enforcement Survey (nothing here yet)

Youth Access
Half of the cities in San Diego County have passed Youth Tobacco ordinances meriting a grade of "B" or better, according to the fourth annual report card released by the Tobacco-Free Youth Committee of the American Lung Association.

The TFY Committee graded 18 cities and San Diego County on the quality of their tobacco ordinances and enforcement activity.

The cities of San Diego, Oceanside, and San Marcos received "A" grades while "B" grades were awarded to Chula Vista, Coronado, El Cajon, National City, Poway, and Vista. Del Mar was the only city to receive an "F" grade. National City was recognized as the most improved community, raising its grade from an "F" to a "B".

The Committee will be working with other cities such as Vista and Encinitas to help strengthen their current ordinances to include tobacco advertising and product placement restrictions.

San Diego, Oceanside, and San Marcos are the only cities to include advertising and product placement restrictions in their ordinances.

Ten cities ban self-service displays and sales-City of San Diego, Chula Vista, Coronado, El Cajon, Imperial Beach, National City, Oceanside, Poway, San Marcos, and Vista.

Vista prohibits tobacco stores within 1000 feet of a school.

For further details, see "Report Card" below.

Advertising
In Publicly Visible Areas Local advertising restrictions ban advertising display signs in publicly visible locations with the exception of commercial and industrial zones (if the boundary is more than 1000 feet from any school, playground, recreation center or facility, child care center arcade or library or any zone not designated as commercial or industrial). This includes signs on the ground, sidewalk, or pole. The San Diego ordinance also bans billboards. The San Marcos measure applies to all locations throughout the city.

Also banned are advertising displays on the inside or outside of the windows or doors of a business when they are visible to the public from the outside. The Oceanside ordinance applies only to areas where children congregate while the San Marcos ordinance applies to all locations throughout the city.

In-Store Tobacco Advertising
Prohibits placement of tobacco ads in retail stores within two feet of candy, snacks, and nonalcoholic beverage displays. This does not apply if the display is behind the counter and not accessible to the patrons.

Prohibits tobacco advertising display signs that are below four feet and within two feet of candy, snacks, or nonalcoholic beverage displays.

Promotion
National City, Oceanside, San Diego, and San Marcos prohibit the distribution of free tobacco samples and promotional items unless in enclosed areas where minors are not permitted. Solana Beach only bans free tobacco sampling.

Smoke-Free Laws
Public Places Smoking is not allowed in any place where the public is served or invited, such as stores, markets, hair salons, public meeting rooms, libraries, elevators, theaters, public transportation, restrooms, bowling centers, etc.

Vending Machines Ten cities passed ordinances that completely ban sale of cigarettes through vending machines-City of San Diego, County of San Diego, Chula Vista, Coronado, Del Mar, El Cajon, Imperial Beach, Lemon Grove, Poway and Solana Beach.

Nine cities passed ordinances that restrict sale of cigarettes through vending machines to stand-alone bars-Carlsbad, Encinitas, Escondido, La Mesa, National City, Oceanside, San Marcos, Santee, and Vista.

Sales to Minors Rates

Model Ordinance
Here is a model Youth Tobacco Ordinance developed by the Tobacco-Free Youth Committee of the American Lung Association of San Diego and Imperial Counties to assist cities and counties to enact policies that will protect youth from the predatory marketing tactics of the tobacco industry.

Report Card
Here is a Year 2000 Youth Tobacco Ordinance Report Card (insert link: "Report Card" in PDF format) prepared by the Tobacco-Free Youth Committee. The report card grades San Diego County and all cities in the county on the quality of their ordinances.

Law Enforcement Survey