Board Bans Tobacco Ads Near Schools, Playgrounds

A ban on tobacco advertising on billboards within 2,000 feet of schools, playgrounds and parks with playgrounds was adopted Friday by the King County Health Board.

The measure was approved 14 to 0 after the panel narrowly adopted an amendment boosting the setback from 1,000 feet as proposed by county Health Department officials.

Representatives of AK Media Northwest said about 30 percent of the company’s billboards are within the 1,000-foot zone but could not say what proportion of them carried tobacco advertising.

In a hearing before the vote, they did not say what percentage were within 2,000 feet.

In a separate action at the meeting, County Councilman Greg Nickels, the principal backer of the tobacco ad restriction, was re-elected chairman of the health board.

The panel is expected to act later on proposals to restrict tobacco products in stores to locked areas or behind counters, to ban tobacco ads lower than 3 feet or within 30 feet of candy sections and to prohibit all smoking in restaurants.