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MINUTES <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF HEALTH <br />November 18, 2009 <br />Board of Health Minutes Transcription completed by Anne Miles Cassell 3 November 18, 2009 <br />been involved in locally. Changes at the national level include the largest tobacco tax <br />increase in history and the enactment of legislation giving the FDA new authority over <br />tobacco products and tobacco marketing. North Carolina legislators passed House Bill <br />2 banning smoking in restaurants and bars, and the law gives local governments the <br />authority to make all public areas smoke free. <br /> <br />Michael Wood asked how the various students got involved in the TRU organization and <br />cause. Rosemary Summers inquired whether any of the TRU students had smokers in <br />their families. One student reported an older sibling and another said their <br />grandmother had smoked. <br /> <br />Christopher Cooke asked if any of the students had ever smoked. Pam Diggs explained <br />that to be a member of TRU a student was required to be a non-smoker before they <br />could join, although it was permissible to have smoked in the past. None of the <br />students present at the meeting had ever smoked. <br /> <br />Jessica Lee asked how common smoking currently is among high school students <br />today. Since the enforcement of smoke-free campuses, a student noted that <br />smokeless tobacco products were observed around school because those products <br />were easier to hide. Rosemary Summers pointed out the impressive decrease in the <br />number of teen smokers in Orange County was due in large part to the efforts of the <br />TRU students. <br /> <br />V. Action Items on CONSENT Agenda <br /> <br />A. Minutes approval of October 22, 2009 meeting. <br /> <br />B. Accept Additional Funds for Implementation of Tobacco Free Restaurants and <br />Bars <br /> <br />The NC General Assembly passed House Bill 2 that bans use of tobacco products <br />in restaurants and bars beginning January 1, 2010. The CDC through the Health <br />and Wellness Trust Fund is making funds available to assist local health <br />departments in communicating with establishments on the new requirements <br />and in assuring that establishments understand their responsibilities and the <br />consequences of non-compliance. The Orange County Health Department has <br />been awarded a total of $3,213.60 in two separate categories. Amounts <br />allocated were based on the number of restaurants in each county and a set <br />amount of $450 for purchasing drink coasters through the state that will be <br />distributed to restaurants and bars. <br /> <br />Staff will be focusing efforts on bars in Orange County as restaurants are more <br />accustomed to complying with the Board of Health’s locally adopted rules. The <br />notification of violation and compliance measures are similar to the ones already <br />in place in Orange County. <br /> <br />These funds will be used to purchase media ads, construct web page <br />information and conduct awareness campaigns with restaurants and bars. This <br />will be a joint effort between Health Promotion and Environmental Health.