NORWICH – Reality Check youth at Norwich High School joined forces with high school faculty and local businesses on Friday, October 13 to commemorate the first Seen Enough Tobacco (SET) day in New York State.

Reality Check youth decorated pumpkins and arranged them into a giant number 13 at the event to represent the average age of a new smoker as part of their mission to bring awareness to the problem of tobacco industry store targeting youth in their marketing tactics.

October 13 has been proclaimed Seen Enough Tobacco day statewide because studies show tobacco marketing is a proven cause of youth smoking.

“We've seen enough tobacco promotions and smoking,” said Morgan Burdick, sophomore at NHS. “The solution is to change our community so that tobacco and tobacco use is not the norm.”

Tobacco Free Zone and Reality Check in Chenango County are now seeking support from community members to stand up in an effort to eliminate tobacco marketing and advertising in places where youth can see them.