When it comes to York County, Tobacco retailers are not hard to find. All over the county, retailers are selling these products and promoting the consumption of nicotine. Big advertisements for these products are posted all over the buildings at a low enough height that children would be able to take notice. These ads are promoting the use of these products while ignoring their harm. The location of these retailers is spread out so much that all schools have them in close proximity. While there are meant to be age restrictions on these products, retailers do not always enforce or check carefully, allowing minors to make decisions that will affect their long-term health. The main issues with the high saturation of these retailers are:

Students have easy access to tobacco products while at school

An advertisement is made to entice all ages through its placement and flavors

Low prices on the products make them easy to purchase without permission from a parent or guardian

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Little to no education on the harms of these products leaves children vulnerable to the health risks without any knowledge of their full effects

Schools have to try to monitor students because of the tobacco products they are bringing and using during learning time

Without knowing the risks, harm, or danger of these products, kids are being bombarded with peer pressure and easy accessibility to these tobacco products. While parents may think their kid is too young or too smart to need to discuss the weight of these products, it is important that they take time to inform them from a young age. Clearing the air with a conversation can help protect your student from the retailers that have encroached into the proximity of their schools.

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