“No Thanks, Big Tobacco” is a campaign to call attention to how tobacco industry sponsorships, charitable funding, and promotions hurt communities on a scale that far outweighs any potential benefits, and to urge non-profit organizations and businesses to take a stand against Big Tobacco tactics. Sample Policy (.doc) "No Thanks" Brochure (PDF)

The Tobacco Industry uses five major strategies to promote tobacco use in our communities; Sponsorship, Point-of-Purchase Advertising, Promotion, Periodical Advertising and Product Placement in Movies.

Our goal is to educate our community members about Big Tobacco’s tactics and ask them to join our “No Thanks, Big Tobacco” campaign.

Our “No Thanks Big Tobacco” Campaign is an opportunity for your organization to receive free advertising if you chose to participate. Your may have noticed our TV, radio and newspaper ads that include organizations already participating urging you to join them.

The “No Thanks Big Tobacco” Campaign is a statewide campaign initiated by the NYS Dept. of Health Tobacco Control Program, and its goal is to remove tobacco industry influence in our community. To accomplish this, organizations are encouraged to adopt a policy stating they will not accept direct tobacco industry funding, sponsorship or promotion.

The tobacco industry spends $444 million dollars* in New York State to advertise and promote their product that kills 25,500* New Yorkers each year and tries to replace those tobacco users with our youth. They have lied to the government and the public about the dangers of their product for over 50 years. In 2006 the tobacco industry was found guilty of violating the Racketeer Influenced Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO) Click to downloand & view 'U.S. District Judge Gladys Kessler’s Final Opinion: Summary of Findings Against the Tobacco Industry' from The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (PDF)

This has caused suffering in our families and economic hardship to our community. Accepting corporate giving, sponsorship and promotion from the tobacco industry enhances their cooperate image. Does allowing the tobacco industry to align itself with your organization’s reputation and hard earned trust fit your mission in our community?

Please join us and other organizations like yours across the state in adopting a “No Thanks Big Tobacco” policy within your agency. Download & view the Sample Policy (.doc) along with the "No Thanks" Brochure (PDF) explaining the initiative.

SmokeFree Dutchess will periodically hold recognition events and include the agencies that participate in this campaign. SmokeFree Dutchess will advertise the event and with the Agency's permission, highlight their participation with advertising, such as the one shown above, in the Poughkeepsie Journal and in other area newspapers.

We look forward to your participation in this initiative. Please contact us if you have any questions or need additional information.

Tobacco Point of Purchase Advertising (P.O.P.)

SmokeFree Dutchess is contacting all stores that sell tobacco in Dutchess County who are interested in stopping tobacco sales to youth.

We are informing them how they can stop tobacco sales to youth and prevent youth from using tobacco by voluntarily decreasing or removing tobacco industry advertising around their store.

Tobacco advertising gives youth the impression tobacco is easily available for them to purchase.
A third of youth smoking is linked to tobacco industry advertising.
Youth are three times more vulnerable to tobacco industry advertising than adults.
Three out of four youth shop in convenient stores once a week.

Download & view our POP Brochure (PDF) with information about sales to youth and tobacco point of purchase advertising. You can also download & view a sample Voluntary POP Agreement for Retailers (.doc). Please consider signing this agreement to reduce or remove tobacco advertising outside your store.

Smoking-related Posters & Signs for Download

The following No Smoking Poster & Information Card is available for printing from your computer. Click here to download the .pdf file. Click on the picture to view a larger version.

(You will need the Free Acrobat Reader software to open, view and/or print these files. To download this software, click here.)

	Download, print and display this I Love Smoke-Free NY Poster. It is available for printing from your computer. Click here to download the .pdf file, or click on the image.
	The following Clean Indoor Air Poster offers compliance suggestions and information. It is available for printing from your computer. Click here to download the .pdf file, or click on the image.
	Download and print this Smoke-Free Home Pledge Poster and post it in your places of business or community areas. Click here to download the .pdf file, or click on the image.