Mecklenburg County Public Health and Charlotte Pride will create a tobacco-free zone at the Charlotte Pride Festival on Saturday and Sunday at First Ward Park. According to the Mecklenburg County news release, the zone will prohibit smoking, vaping, and the use of tobacco products to reduce secondhand smoke exposure and support individuals trying to quit.
The initiative targets health concerns within the LGBTQ+ community, which studies show has higher smoking rates than the general population. Festival organizers will provide resources, including QuitlineNC for counseling and medication access, as well as free HIV/STI testing and naloxone.
The tobacco-free zone and health resources aim to provide a safer environment for festival attendees, particularly youth and people with health conditions. Mecklenburg County Public Health and Charlotte Pride will oversee the implementation of the new measures.
