The goal of Tobacco-Free Ways' youth coalition is to provide an avenue for youth to conduct advocacy and education activities in the community designed to deter youth from using tobacco, educate mechants about tobacco laws and the targeting of youth in tobacco marketing and promote smoke-free environments.

The youth group call themselves S.W.A.T., which stands for Students Working Against Tobacco. They are also known as TF2 (pronounced T F squared), the Tobacco-Free Task Force.

Current plans include:

• Establish an executive council: Students are responsible for nominating and electing their own leadership for the group. Positions include President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary.
  
  
• Conduct OPERATION STOREFRONT: S.W.A.T. members conduct surveys of tobacco advertising and promotions at stores that sell tobacco. Coalition members then educate retailers and media, as well as the general public, on how industry marketing influences youth in the community to start down the road to nicotine addiction.
  
  
• Produce a smoke-free family entertainment guide: Members will identify and produce a listing of family-oriented entertainment venues in Pima County that offer a smoke-free environment safe for the entire family. Many area businesses will be offering discounts coupon in the free booklets.

For more information, or to join us, 6th to 12th grade students currently enrolled in a Pima County public school can call 740-3031.