In 1988, California voters passed Proposition 99, which imposed a 25-cent tax on every pack of cigarettes sold in the state. A portion of those funds are dedicated for tobacco prevention and education services in every California County. San Mateo County has a strong history of advancing campaigns that help smokers quit and protect the health and well-being of all non-smoking youth and adults.

The San Mateo County Tobacco Education Coalition (TEC) was formed after the passage of Proposition 99 to assess local tobacco-related needs and develop collaborative initiatives to reduce the impact of smoking in the community. TEC :

• Educates the public to prevent youth from initiating smoking and ensuring the community is aware of the many harms of tobacco use
• Adopts protective policies that keep the air clean, the ground free of litter, and tobacco products out of the hands of youth
• Supports people who smoke who wish to quit 

Since TEC’s inception, hundreds of local policies protecting public health have been adopted, thousands of residents have benefited from presentations and educational opportunities around tobacco issues, and the number of current smokers in San Mateo County has dropped dramatically.

To see a list of smoking and tobacco-related policies in San Mateo County, click here . 

Connect with us!

Facebook: facebook.com/TobaccoEducationCoalition

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/smc_tec/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@smc_tec

Calling all Menlo Park residents who live in multi-unit housing! 

Do you live in an apartment, condo, townhome, or duplex/quadplex? Help us better understand community concerns around smoking and secondhand smoke in multi-unit housing.