Implementing Smoke-Free Fair Policy

California's first 100% Smoke-free Fair was the result of Marin County's outdoor smoke-free ordinance in 2007. The effort was part of Healthy Marin Partnership's “Healthy Choices at the Fair” program that included green packaging, alcohol free themes, and healthy food options. At the time that this occurred, there was only one other smoke-free fair in the U.S. Unlike other smoke-free fairs that include separate smoking sections on fair-grounds, the entire fair was smoke-free including: buildings, grounds, vendor booths, exhibits, rides, tented areas, concert and fire-works areas. An implementation plan addressed problems such as litter control and enforcement, with the goal of protecting non-smokers without alienating visitors who smoked. Practical solutions included: establishment of smoking areas with tents in parking lots away from the fair-grounds, and multi-lingual education of smoking vendors and exhibitors. Overall compliance was high due to (1) Fair publicity about the new law, (2) collaboration between fair official, health officials, outreach workers, security and enforcement personnel prior to and during the Fair. Trained outreach teams compassionately offered gift bags with maps of off site smoking areas, portable ash trays, and smoking cessation information to help smokers feel respected while maintaining the family oriented smoke-free fair environment. Once smoking visitors understood how to find off-site smoking areas, they utilized them. Non-smokers expressed appreciation for the healthier smoke-free and litter- free environment. A media outreach plan emphasizing upbeat themes of healthy and clean environments resulted in positive news coverage, increasing public awareness and overall compliance rates.