Counter Tobacco Podcast: Tobacco-Related Assurances of Voluntary Compliance
In this episode, we provide a primer on tobacco-related Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC), which are legally binding and enforceable agreements between companies (i.e. big tobacco retailers) and one or more states (under each state attorneys [...]
Letter to FDA on Rules to Prohibit Menthol Cigarettes and Flavored Cigars
Dear Dr. Califf: The undersigned public health, medical, education and community organizations write to express our support for the Food and Drug Administration’s commitment to issuing proposed rules this Spring to prohibit menthol as a characterizing [...]
Protecting Local Authority to Adopt Local Solutions
Laws and policies adopted at the local level are tailored to their communities, improving health outcomes and reducing inequities. Local laws also complement state or federal policies and provide greater coverage for enforcement inspections of retailers. Preemption [...]
Healthy POS Webinar Series: The Effects of Preemption and Opportunities for Action in Preempted States
Counter Tools hosted a webinar on April 14, 2022 with special guests from Indiana and ChangeLab Solutions. With the introduction of new preemption bills during the pandemic and existing preempted states, tobacco point-of-sale related preemption presents [...]
Counter Tobacco Podcast: Store Assessments
Store assessments are visits to retail tobacco stores to document and collect data on what tobacco products are being sold and how they are being marketed and promoted in your community. In this episode, learn both [...]
Webinar – Changing the Game Redux: An Updated Playbook for E-cigarette Regulation at the State and Local Level
Despite public health concerns about the prevalence of e-cigarette use – especially among youth and young adults – the U.S. e-cigarette market continues to thrive. Addressing this rapidly changing market requires coordinated and evidence-based policy at [...]
New FTC report on e-cigarette sales and marketing emphasizes importance of the retail environment
A new FTC report on data from 6 major e-cigarette companies show that retail stores account for most e-cigarette sales and marketing expenditure. It also shows the popularity of flavored e-cigarette products that helped drive youth [...]
How innovative technology aided public health during COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic invited technology innovation in order to help keep the public updated, and inform scientists, leaders, and public health departments as information changed rapidly and more people were affected. Health departments working with academia [...]
Letter Urging Action on Synthetic Nicotine in E-cigarettes
Dear Majority Leader Schumer, Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader McCarthy: We write to urge you to respond to a new and growing threat to our nation’s youth: e-cigarette manufacturers’ use of synthetic nicotine [...]
Addressing the Off-Campus Tobacco Retail Environment to Enhance Tobacco Free Colleges
Colleges and universities across the country have had success in using policy to protect students from exposure to secondhand smoke on campus. However, these policies do not address the tobacco retail environment immediately off-campus. Considering the off-campus [...]
Tobacco Point of Sale Preemption Playbook
Local governments often lead the way in adopting laws and policies aimed at improving health outcomes and reducing inequities, including point-of-sale commercial tobacco control policies. However, state preemption can thwart local efforts to adopt laws and [...]
Meet our staff: Elizabeth Gerndt, Project Director
Elizabeth Gerndt is a Project Director at Counter Tools and is passionate about healthy eating and active living. Learn more about Elizabeth’s background in her staff profile below. Tell us a little bit about your background [...]
Report: Surveying How the Tobacco Industry Markets Flavors in Five Midwestern Cities
A report from Counter Tools and Truth Initiative examines how flavored tobacco products are marketed and sold in 5 U.S. cities, with new data looking specifically at e-cigarette products. Download Materials Summary report: Surveying How the [...]
Counter Tobacco Podcast: Point-of-Sale Pricing Policies
In this episode we talk about point-of-sale pricing policies, meaning ways to raise the price of tobacco sold in retail stores. Raising prices is one of the most effective ways to reduce tobacco use initiation, decrease [...]
Welcome to our new board members
We are excited to introduce our three new members to join the Counter Tools board of directors. Please join us in welcoming Jabari, Malembe, and Mischael to the Counter Tools team. Our newest board members bring [...]
Congrats to our partners on their 2021 accomplishments!
Despite the challenges that 2021 brought, our public health partners remained committed to building healthier, more equitable communities. We’d like to recognize our partners for the following accomplishments in 2021: Arizona Office of the Attorney General [...]
