With our partners, we advance place-based public health by enacting and enforcing policy, systems, and environmental interventions that promote health equity across communities.
We aim to reduce the detrimental impact of unhealthy substances such as tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy food at the consumer’s primary point of exposure and access: the retail environment.

What We Do
Counter Tools draws on the best available science and an evidence-based model of change to help state and local-level partners reduce the impact of products that harm the health of individuals and communities. Based on a community’s needs, our work can focus on prevention strategies, enforcement tactics, or a combination of both.
With a team of public health experts, we are proud to offer extensive training, technical assistance, and advanced technology aimed at increasing our partners’ capacity to build healthier communities for all.
Our Partners
We work collaboratively with our partners to advance their goals around place-based public health. Our partners are government agencies, nonprofits, universities, and educational organizations with a diversity of geographic and demographic characteristics, capacity, and political landscape.
Map markers
- ChangeLab Solutions
- Lee’s Summit CARES
- Public Health Law Center
- Community Advocates
- American Lung Association
- PEER Services
- Case Western Reserve University Prevention Research Center
- University of Kentucky
- CDC Office on Smoking and Health
- Charleston Center
- University of North Carolina
- University of Virginia
- CADCA Geographic Health Equity Alliance
- National Association of County & City Health Officials
- Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
- Truth Initiative
- Reality Check
- Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation / T21














What Our Partners Say
“I can’t say enough how much I appreciate and value our partnership. We couldn’t be happier with the expertise, the TA, the software, everything. With your help, we have completely reinvented our Synar program and become one of the leaders across the state.”
“Counter Tools brings the expertise and education our youth need… The broader, deeper learning experience they provide gets our young people thinking Big Picture–about how they can get out and contribute to their local community AND change the world.”
“Counter Tools has been a great partner and assists in implementing a statewide POS effort. We value their expertise and contributions to our team.”
“They are thorough, responsive, and professional. Counter Tools staff is reliable and timely.”
“Innovative, engaging and will help continue momentum for local policy action.”
Recent Blog Posts
Delaying the rules to end menthol cigarettes will continue to cost lives
Yesterday the Biden administration announced that it will delay issuing the rules to eliminate menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars until [More]
Updated Report: Tobacco Companies and Convenience Stores Partner to Hook Kids, Fight Life-Saving Policies
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids has released an updated version of the report Deadly Alliance: How Big Tobacco and Convenience Stores [More]
CounterTobacco.org’s 12th Annual Point-of-Sale Tobacco Marketing Photo Contest
CounterTobacco.org’s 12th Annual Point-of-Sale Tobacco Marketing Photo Contest is here! Each year we host this contest to showcase what’s happening in the tobacco retail [More]
Webinar: Environmental Scans for Alcohol Policy Change with the Alcohol Policy Resource Center
We are excited to announce a collaborative webinar with the Alcohol Policy Resource Center. The Environmental Scans for Alcohol Policy [More]
Building healthier communities for all to reduce cancer risk
Researchers continue to uncover how health behaviors– like diet, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and tobacco use– can be risk factors [More]
Meet our newest team member: Michael Kelly, Project Director
Michael Kelly is a Project Director at Counter Tools and is passionate about policy change and making a positive impact. [More]
What do we know about modern oral nicotine pouches?
If you’ve visited a convenience store lately, you’ve likely seen advertisements for nicotine pouches like Zyn, On!, Rogue or Velo. [More]
We’re partnering with North Carolina in new ways
We are excited to partner with the North Carolina Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch (TPCB) and two tobacco control regions [More]
Get in Touch!
Join us in advancing place-based public health.
Contact us at [email protected] or use the form below.