January
16

New Year, Healthier Town of Shelby

Each January, roughly one in three Americans resolve to improve their health in some way. This January, one town — the Town of Shelby in Orleans County — made good on a healthier, tobacco-free grounds resolution that will benefit the entire community for 2019 and beyond. The new law, which was drafted by newly elected … Continued
November
30

Greatest Hits of Great American Smokeout 2018

Thursday, November 20 was a day for smokers to quit for the day and get smoke and tobacco products out of their lives. But it was also a day that our public health partners, Reality Check teen advocates and teachers across Western New York seized upon to rally support for getting smoke out of our … Continued
October
22

Youth in WNY Have Seen Enough Tobacco

The evidence is overwhelming. The more kids see tobacco, the more likely they are to start smoking. To help their communities see the injustice of this truth,  Reality Check teens from Western New York joined their fellow youth champions across New York State in celebrating Seen Enough Tobacco Day on October 13.   Seen Enough Tobacco Day is … Continued
July
23

Teens Rally To Stop Targeted Tobacco Marketing

150 Reality Check youth leaders from across New York State (12 repping Western New York). All rallying around the issue that major tobacco companies spend an average of $1 million+ every hour marketing their products to youth. In 90+ degree temps. These numbers tell only a part of the story. View more: This story does not end  … Continued
July
3

July 4th: Celebrating Freedom From Tobacco

We celebrate freedom every day. Freedom from tobacco, that is. But on the 4th of July, we celebrate it even more.  Between family barbecues and firework blasts, we celebrate all the laws that have been passed that allow freedom from secondhand smoke. We celebrate the freedom to speak out against Big Tobacco and their deceitful marketing tactics, … Continued
June
5

World No Tobacco Day: WNY Style

Tobacco use is a leading cause of preventable death and disease worldwide, killing more than 7 million people each year globally, including 480,000 adults in the United States and 28,200 right here in New York State. This local and global death toll is so concerning that the World Health Organization (WHO) has designated an annual … Continued
May
23

Altria Group: Stop Targeting Teens

60 youth from Reality Check of New York and No Limits Nebraska stormed through Richmond, VA. on May 17. The group’s goal: to tell Altria Group, the nation’s No. 1 tobacco company and owner of Marlboro maker  Philip Morris USA (PMUSA), that they’ve seen enough tobacco marketing and they want the company to stop targeting … Continued
April
17

Spring Cleaning: 5 Tips to Tobacco-Free Living

Spring breathes new life into the world around us. This spring (if you call 32 degrees spring!?), we suggest you take full advantage of new life and make a clean break from tobacco exposure. Here are 5 spring-cleaning tips that will allow you, your children, your neighbors, and the entire community, breathe the freshest air … Continued
March
27

Kicking Butts, Seizing Control

In the midst of a sunny, yet cool St. Patrick’s Day on March 17,  50+ youth activists savored the mist of the mighty Niagara Falls to speak out about  the billions of dollars of tobacco promotions in places where they and other youth can see and be influenced by them. Besides Kicking Butts ( to bring attention … Continued
December
21

Ho, Ho, Oh NO: Holiday Flavored Vape Juice

The 12 Days of Christmas are nearly upon us. Manufacturers of e-cigarettes and e-liquids are celebrating the season by giving their true loves holiday-flavored vape juice. Although the partridge in the pear tree would rather not breathe in the harmful chemicals of secondhand vapor, we bring you five golden flavors being promoted (with company descriptors … Continued