Next, we decided to find out where kids from our school were getting cigarettes, so we conducted a school survey. Then with the permission of our parents, we went to the businesses named in the survey and found out just how easy it was for kids to buy cigarettes! We were successful with almost every attempt...not only from vending machines, but also from over- the- counter sales.

We began going to borough council meetings. Armed with the information we collected, we asked our borough council members to ban cigarette vending machines, outdoor tobacco advertising, and self service displays. We also asked them to enforce the law against selling cigarettes to minors and to pass a law prohibiting smoking in all of our town's public buildings, including restaurants and stores.

So far, our going before the council hasn't had much effect in our town. At first, the council members adopted a resolution banning cigarette vending machines, but three months later they passed another ordinance allowing them in places with liquour licenses. Two of the three machines in town aren't in compliance, even with the later ordinance which states that vending machines should not be assessable to patrons. One machine is right in the open and stands next to the door. The other is near the lavatories, and the third has a lock out device. (We know that lock out devices aren't effective!)

Our request for no smoking in public places resulted in our council establishing a "No Smoking" ordinance in municipal buildings, but this was already a federal law.  Not as many people visit the municipal building as they do the town's restaurants.) If our town wants to protect its residents, we need smokefree public places, including restaurants.

The federal law that restricts tobacco products from being sold to minors isn't being enforced in our town. Surveys we've taken and compliance checks done by our county health department tell us that kids are still buying cigarettes. Our mayor has promised to help us. We all have a lot of work to do!