Tobacco-Free Policy
The Big Sky Biggie is Tobacco-Free
The Big Sky Biggie is committed to protecting the health and safety of all participants. Tobacco use in the proximity of children and adults engaging in the Big Sky Biggie’s event site poses health concerns. We have a unique opportunity to create and sustain an environment that supports a tobacco-free norm through a tobacco-free policy, rule enforcement, and adult-peer role modeling. Parents and community leaders involved in local events are role models for youth and can have a positive effect on the lifestyle choices they make.
No form of tobacco use is safe. Tobacco products, like e-cigarettes, cigars, hookahs, dissolvables, heat-not-burn cigarettes, and smokeless tobacco, contain some of the same chemicals as regular combustible cigarettes. There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. Secondhand tobacco smoke is a Class A Carcinogen. Secondhand smoke levels in outdoor public places can reach levels as high as those found in indoor facilities where smoking is permitted. E-cigarette aerosol that users breathe from the device and exhale can contain harmful and potentially harmful substances, including nicotine, ultrafine particles, flavoring, volatile organic compounds, cancer-causing chemicals and heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead. Exposure to e-cigarette aerosol has not been proven to be safe. There is no constitutional right to smoke.
Tobacco-free policies can help tobacco users quit and prevent initiation of tobacco use. A tobacco-free policy can protect the environment and the Big Sky Biggie’s event site from toxic litter. Cigarette and other tobacco product litter is unattractive, expensive to clean up, hazardous to young children, and harmful to waterways and wildlife. Communities throughout Montana have protected the health and safety of local event participants with tobacco-free event policies.
It is intent of the Big Sky Biggie in enacting this tobacco-free event policy to protect public health and welfare by reducing harmful impacts of secondhand smoke, presenting healthy behaviors to youth, and supporting those who are quitting tobacco products.