Cider with Santa Event at Hollenbeck’s Cider Mill a Success

The Tobacco Free Zone & Reality Check Programs of Cortland, Tompkins & Chenango Counties teamed with Hollenbeck’s Cider Mill in Virgil for a family-friendly, tobacco-free Cider with Santa event on Saturday, December 8th.

More than 100 people attended the festivities to meet Santa Claus, sip delicious cider, and learn how our community can protect youth from the deceptive retail marketing practices of the tobacco industry.

Local Reality Check youth elves were on hand with games and materials to educate families about youth tobacco and vape use, how tobacco and vape companies drive social normalcy and acceptability of their harmful products through retail marketing and access, and policy solutions municipalities can take to address the problem. Youth collected signatures from concerned residents who are supportive of protecting kids from tobacco and vape industry manipulative marketing and nicotine addiction.

“We’ve seen enough tobacco and vape promotions. The solution is to change our community environment so that tobacco and vape use is not the norm,” said Melissa Potter, Reality Check Coordinator. “We appreciate businesses like Hollenbeck’s Cider Mill who have chosen to designate their properties tobacco- and vape-free.”

In New York State, high school student e-cigarette use has skyrocketed from 10.5% in 2014 to a whopping 27.4% this year.  The bottom line is that nearly every e-cigarette sold contains nicotine. Nicotine is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development.  Furthermore, e-cigarettes typically contain other harmful substances besides nicotine. Young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future.

For more information visit www.TFreeZone.net or www.SeenEnoughTobacco.org.