School District of Manatee County Goes Tobacco Free

On Monday night, the Manatee County School Board Officials voted to make the district a tobacco free zone, officials said Tuesday.

That means all tobacco products would be prohibited anytime, anywhere and by anyone on all school property, and at all school-sponsored events. 

While there have always been policies requiring that buildings be smoke-free indoors, an increasing number of school boards throughout Florida have gone 100 percent tobacco-free indoors and out

Proponents of the law say it protects non-smoking teachers and students from the adverse affects of second-hand smoke, saves the district in health-care costs and sets a good example for children. However, critics of the law say it interferes with a person’s lifestyle and legality of the law often comes into question, as they say, it’s a violation of their freedom of choice.

In June 2011, Gov. Rick Scott signed a law amending the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act to give school boards the authority to designate all district property as tobacco-free. Since then, several college campuses and school districts have followed suite.