Annual Tobacco Report Grades are Out: Pinole Receives "C," Hercules "F"

By David Mills

The tobacco report grade issued by the American Lung Association has stayed the same for Pinole and Hercules over the last three years.

The report graded local governments in four key areas -- tobacco control and prevention spending, smoke-free air, cigarette tax and cessation coverage.

The report states the battle to reduce tobacco use in most states, including California, has "all but stalled."

Hercules received a total of zero points for a lack of smoke-free outdoors areas and housing, in addition to having no new policies for reducing the sales of tobacco products. The city was also given an "F" by the association in previous years.

Pinole received an overall score of 7 points: an "A" for its availability of smoke-free areas, "C" for smoke-free housing options and "D" for reducing sales of tobacco products.

In Contra Costa County, one city (Richmond) received an "A" across the board, as did the unincorporated regions. Three cities received a "B," four cities got a "C," three cities earned a "D" and eight cities were tagged with an "F."

Overall, the lung association says the country must "renew its commitment to eliminate tobacco-caused death and disease."

“Despite great strides in reducing smoking rates in America, tobacco use remains the leading cause of preventable death and illness in the U.S.,” said Anita Lee, interim chief executive officer of the American Lung Association in California. “We must renew our commitment to stopping tobacco from robbing another generation of Americans of their health and future."

The reports notes California used to be a leader in tobacco control policies, but now the state is falling behind in these measures.

In this year's report, the number of California cities receiving an "A" rose while the number getting an "F" declined.

However, more than 60 percent of California's municipalities still received "F" grades.