Youth under the age of eighteen are not
permitted to smoke at any C.Y.F.M. gathering. No one (young person or adult)
is permitted to give, lend or sell tobacco products to a minor. Any one
who sells tobacco products to a minor is in violation of the law.
Anyone who gives tobacco products to or purchases them for youth under
the age of 18 could face criminal charges. We consider this to be a
serious offense.
GUIDELINES FOR ADULTS WHO SMOKE
Adults are free to make choices about smoking. We would hope that adults
would consider their sphere of influence, and choose not to smoke at
youth events. This would keep adults in greater solidarity with young
people.
We know that cigarettes are addictive. We
ask that adults, who find it difficult to avoid smoking smoke in
discreet, designated smoking areas. These are: 1) at the top of the
walkway ramp to the kitchen near the St. Francis building, and 2) at the
north end of the front walkway around the St. Clare building.
GUIDELINES FOR ALL ADULTS
The state of New York does not view
underage smoking in the same way that it views underage drinking.
Parents sometimes are under the mistaken impression that it is okay for
their daughters or sons to smoke, if they grant permission. These
influences should help to shape a pastoral response to young people who
make the unfortunate decision to smoke at our events.
Therefore:
-
Underage smoking at a
C.Y.F.M. event will not, in and of itself, cause a young person to be
sent home. Pastoral sensitivity needs to be applied. Should a
young person smoke in an area where smoking is strictly prohibited,
this will be seen as a far more serious offense.
Parents do not have the authority to grant
a young person permission to smoke at a C.Y.F.M. event.
