Health Care Advocates Hit Home Run with New Tobacco Policy
Health Care Advocates Hit Home Run with New Tobacco Policy Health care advocates cheered as Major League Baseball and the player’s union announced in November that major league players, managers, and coaches will no longer be permitted to carry tobacco
Health Care Advocates Hit Home Run with New Tobacco Policy
Health care advocates cheered as Major League Baseball and the player’s union announced in November that major league players, managers, and coaches will no longer be permitted to carry tobacco tins or packages in their uniforms at games—or anytime fans are inside the ballpark. With the help of more than 200 national, state, and local partners, 10 major health organizations—including Oral Health America (OHA) and the American Dental Association—formed a coalition that helped affect positive change. This development provides substantial lift to OHA’s National Spit Tobacco Education Program that, for years, has worked to help educate the public—especially children—about the dangers of spit-tobacco products. In addition to the ban of carrying tobacco while in uniform, major league players will be prohibited from using smokeless tobacco during televised interviews, at autography signings, team-sponsored events, and meet-and-greets.
Despite this progress, contract rules state that players will still be permitted to use smokeless tobacco during games; however, the coalition has indicated it will continue to support a complete prohibition on tobacco use at games and on camera—mainly because children and young adults emulate the actions of their favorite players.
