Public Tobacco Use & Accessibility Survey
Project Engagement
VIEWS
532
PARTICIPANTS
123
RESPONSES
1,024
COMMENTS
107
1. Please select your age group.
122 respondents
87% 21+
13% Ages 16-20
1/22/26, 11:52 AM Chula Vista, CA - Report Creation
https://publicinput.com/Report/rcz1ga0hh4w 1/12
2. What is your zip code?
120 respondents
37 %
34 %
10 %
8%
5%
4%
3%
91910
91911
91913
91915
Other
91914
91902
3. How often do you use tobacco products (including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, or smokeless tobacco)?
118 respondents
61 %
17 %
17 %
5%
I have never used tobacco products
Daily
I used to, but I quit
Occasionally
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4. How easy do you think it is for youth (under 21) in our community to purchase tobacco products? 118 respondents
30 %
28 %
16 %
14 %
12 %
Very easy
Somewhat easy
Somewhat difficult
Very difficult
Unsure
5. How do you usually purchase tobacco products?
87 Respondents
52% 45 ✓
49 % 43 ✓
9 % 8 ✓
6% 5 ✓
Other
Purchased at a retail store
Given by family or friends
Purchased online
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6. Do you believe tobacco products are marketed or sold in ways that appeal to youth (under 21)? 111 respondents
66% Yes
24% No
10% Unsure
7. Have you noticed tobacco or vaping product sales near schools, parks, or youth-oriented areas? 110 respondents
31% Sometimes
30% Often
23% Rarely
16% Never
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8. How concerned are you about the health impacts of tobacco use in your community? 112 respondents
50 %
28 %
16 %
6%
Very concerned
Somewhat concerned
Not very concerned
Not at all concerned
9. Would you support stronger local regulations to reduce youth access to tobacco and vaping products?
112 respondents
73% Yes
20% No
7% Unsure
10. Please share any comments or suggestions about tobacco use or prevention efforts in our community
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No advertising near schools
Educate youth about the harm of smoking.
I support freedom and convenience for all the adults anywhere Less flashy lights on smoke shops
Provide better ways to dispose of tobacco products in public streets. City of El Cajon provides small receptacles for the public to drop their cigarette butts rather than on the street or better yet, ban public tobacco use.
Current measure in place ensure tobacco products are not sold to those under 21 as per the law. Furthermore, the greatest appeal of tobacco products (specifically vapes) to under 21 individuals was flavor. This too has been banned.
Current laws already ensure community safety. If anyone thinks otherwise, I encourage them to travel to other cities/states in the country that don't have these protections, they will be appalled.
As a college student at San Diego State University who spends time in Chula Vista, I’ve seen how easy it is for youth to access vapes, especially through local smoke shops. Despite age restrictions, many young people seem to know which stores will sell to them amking vaping feel normalized among teens.
I think stronger enforcement of tobacco retail laws, regular compliance checks, and meaningful penalties for shops that sell to minors are critical and needed. It would also help to limit the number and location of smoke shops near schools and youth-centered spaces.
The tobacco industry has proven itself time and time again to target those under 21. In the 1990's there was a trove of documents released from Philip Morris in a court case where Philip Morris folks literally stated if they could get someone to start smoking at 14 they would have a customer for life. I do not think they have veered away from this attitude. Just become more sly in how they appeal to youth. From pushing vaping to flavors etc. I recommend looking up info from this organization to learn about this history and current efforts to curb tobacco marketing to youth both in the US and abroad. https://corporateaccountability.org/tobacco/
Place the SAME regulations and restrictions of Tobbacco Smoking on Cannibus. The marijuana smell much worse NO ONE IN THE PUBLIC SHOULD HAVE TO PUT UP SMELL OF CANNIBUS AND TOBBACO SMOKE! Please enforce alcohol establishments to not sell tobacco products to our youth. 1/22/26, 11:52 AM Chula Vista, CA - Report Creation
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Schools should emphasize the derogatory effects of vaping on a regular basis.
Limit the amount of shops per district and strengthen fines.
Have policy I place or an ordinance that prohibits a store or liquor stores to not sell tobacco products in their stores if they are with 200 yards near schools.
Many of the multi-use buildings in the Otay Ranch area have smoke shops located next to parks and pedestrian walkways with high foot traffic. These locations should be limited to the advertising they can display on windows and open doorways. Doors to these establishments should be closed at all times, since paraphernalia and other Tabacco products are in view of minors.
Chula Vista should contact the community groups who are assisting the City of El Cajon in their efforts to limit tobacco use by minors. Also, the city should pursue grant funding like the Tobacco Grant Program.
Share more experiences/stories of people who suffer consequences from using these products I don’t have any
Stop a child immediately you see them using one
I believe we should provide more help and support for those who struggle with tobacco addiction.
I feel like there is little effort on prevention of Tabacco products in our community and it affects everyone Ok
Delay issuance of a driver's license to youth with multiple infractions for tobacco use.
Youth tobacco use rates have been dropping. Enforce existing laws and regulations. I've been told parents help youth circumvent the laws
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Both my parents smoked in the house until I was 15 years old. I had candy cigarettes as a kid and watched people smoke on TV and in movies. I never tried smoking. Neither did my brother. We were surrounded by smoking and never tried it. It's illegal to sell to someone under 21. City has bigger problem than tobacco use. Otherwise use social media for your prevention efforts. Only way to reach the kids.
It is important to hold tobacco retailers accountable and ensure they are following local and state laws in order to protect youth and our community as a whole.
Thank you
None at this time
I don't purchase tobacco products.
Try to not let the businesses that sell these products to be so lit up example looks like holiday lights neons, to the youth it’s very enticing makes them curious to see what’s in the shop The colors and the smells
Enough as a older person knowing what’s sold there the bright lights are attractive I think that smokers have the same right to smoke and have smoking areas , like the non-smokers have the right to breath fresh air.
Please take the smoking áreas back, thats out right too.
You also need to include smokeless tobacco products, for example Zyn.
Those who purchase of age with a valid ID , have the right to do so. There’s already law of 25’ from building public accesses’. Businesses that are exclusively for that product / purpose should be designed most of the ones I’ve seen have proper ventilation and none smokers don’t need to enter nor participate. As for children under 21, they will find a way to acquire it like anything else. I would prefer to less dispensaries in Chula Vista. The taxes aren’t yielding positive results, because recent reports are showing users are going back to the street corners / dealers. That’s where the real influence is on are children, implying drugs are okay.
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1.- Fuera de establecimientos donde se ve den vapeadores y cigarrillos con frecuencia son comprados por adultos y dados a menores de edad.
2.- El 95 % de los fumadores consumen el producto muy cerca de las entradas a negocios, deberían de regular eso, necesitan irse a fumar o vapear al menos 25 metros de las entradas a negocios.
3.- Cómo es posible que autoridades permitan que la gente ande caminando y fumando mariguana, pregunta, entonces cualquier persona puede ahora andar en la vía pública tomando licor? Al final son drogas como una si la permiten y la otra la regulan.
As a smoker (who smokes MENTHOL cigarettes) I know I need to quit, and I know children should never start. That being said, I do resent being demonized for my bad habit considering how much money I pay into the system through taxes. I try to be as considerate as possible, but I believe I also have the right to walk down the street with a cigarette (or vape) considering how many other irritants and pollutants are in the same open-air space.
Any substance that has a proven addiction profile. Should be kept ftom children, and education for everyone should be ongoing
Tobacco use is also tied to littering. Users tend to litter in public with no regard to environmental impact Schools need to check backpacks, when I went to high school in 2020. Kids would smoke vapes in class, at the time I did tell the teacher but if that happened in 2020 I can imagine it is still going on. My grandmother got told a couple weeks back if she could purchase a vape for a teenager he would pay her double, she said no. We need police officers outside liquor stores or security guards.
I have seen students vaping inside high school bathrooms. My daughter feels uncomfortable using the school bathrooms because of other students vaping and doing drugs.
I have seen students vaping inside high school bathrooms. My daughter feels uncomfortable using the school bathrooms because of other students vaping and doing drugs.
Make tobacco and vaping illegal to consume in public spaces, have stronger regulations for where sellers of tobacco and vaping products are located, push them out of the communities and more out to industrial areas.
Some stores actually require a Drivers License to prove age - and I am in my 70's. 1/22/26, 11:52 AM Chula Vista, CA - Report Creation
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Have you noticed tobacco or vaping product sales near schools, parks, or youth-oriented areas? you do know whaT 7 -11 SELLS RIGHT, HOW ABOUT LIQUOR STORES ? your targeting kids not asking real questions i'll name some vape products you do nothing about cause vape products some in many forms just you dont want to ask fair questions you want to frame the questions. : High 90's Live Resin | 1g - Baja Gusherz - AIO - Hybrid ; many more if this is about tobacco vapes or nicotine vapes . i would you add more ages as to not target kids. i think your survey sucks.
I believe they are more influenced through friends and social media. If you are stricter on prohibiting in certain areas, they will still find somewhere to smoke no matter what.
I was excited to hear that the City Council is considering multicultural districts along Broadway. I don't think all the cigarette butts or stores advertising and selling cheap tobacco products are conducive to the environment you are trying to create.
Code enforcement will be key to success of any program. Thank you! Gas stations and/or liquor stores. etc. that sell tobacco products (and alcohol) are within walking distances of elementary schools, middle schools, or high schools. For example: 407 E St., 1401 Hilltop Dr., 401 Telegraph Canyon Rd., many, many more.
The smoke shops are out of control. They advertise products like mushrooms on sidewalks signs with designs that are appealing to youth. I recommend that every Council member and city staff member visit one or more of these shops.
They are all up and down Broadway. It's disgusting!
I believe youths should be protected from tobacco products and educated on its side affects. But adults should have the right to chose if they want to use tobacco products of any kind. The ban on vaping products is unjust and government overreach.
The amount of middle school and high school age kids who vape in public is astounding and bothersome.
Having government entities regulate what type of tobacco or nicotine products one consumes is insane. I understand there are some flavors that may appease younger people but you shouldn’t chop down the whole tree because of a few rotten apples. You have craft beers now with labels that have “Fruity Pebbles, Sonic the Hedgehog, Mario Bros” and other cartoon characters on them and nothing is being done about that. If you’re going to shut down these kind of advertising, might as well do it across the whole board. 1/22/26, 11:52 AM Chula Vista, CA - Report Creation
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Seven Eleven and gas stations sell tabbacco and vape products very close to schools. My high school daughter tells me kids smoke in the school restrooms and threaten people who will rat on them If it’s underaged minors acquiring tobacco products or vaping equipment they would not be allowed to purchase the products themselves they can only acquire from someone they know or they find it it discarded as trash by another person
It is the parents responsibility to monitor their kids, and how they spend the money they get. As a former smoker and current e-cig user, we should not be penalized for youth smokers and vapers.
In addition to the effects on youth while it may seem very strict I think local ordinances to keep our community safe from secondhand smoke of vaping and traditional cigarette products would be helpful. I believe it's unfair that I have to inhale someone else's smoke even if they are Outdoors it's not only unpleasant it's unhealthy and even what we learned during covid about the spread of particulates and viruses I think it's worth exploring actually having a local ordinance to ban people from smoking and community areas outdoors not just the 25 ft distancing from the doors of businesses.
Additionally, I believe it's worth exploring even how smoke inhalation affects members of the community I for example live in a nice community yet my neighbor is constantly smoking traditional cigarettes as well as marijuana daily and this lingers in my whole neighborhood next to Residents who have kids not only is it harmful for them to be inhaling that but also it's just unpleasant to try to be in my own backyard and have to breathe in people's marijuana and cigarette smoke.
No more regulations. Education and awareness may help. Start early in elementary and middle school.
It's not good for you in the long term. Smoking can cause lung cancer, COPD, and severe illnesses such as pneumonia and bronchitis.
I would like to see more disciplinary action taken on kids using these products (for example zero tolerance for using them in schools)
Education on the effects of vaping. Pop-ups throughout the community for youth interaction. Give retailer incentives.
Ban smoke in any public areas
My kid goes to a high school and let me know there is vaping going on in classrooms and bathrooms all day. You see kids vaping at parks and purchasing them at the mall.
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1) Smoke stop shop 411 3rd Ave is a 2 min walk across the street to CVLCC Middle School 314 Park Way. 2) I live on tv East side of a neighbor who smokes right next to my bedroom window and the ocean breeze pushes the smoke into not only my bedroom but my house. I can’t open my windows since he started smoking, can we please put an ordinance that requires neighbors to be a certain distance away? 3) in apartment/rental homes that are in residential neighborhoods can there be an ordinance where tenants can’t smoke within certain feet of the neighbors house if they are on the west? 3) could we make an ordinance to only smoke in the front or back yard but not side yards so the smoke. Is less likely to go directly into neighbor windows?
I have bronchial issues and don’t want to die from second hand smoke and I’ve never even tried a cigarette, vape or anything!
Thank you for this survey, hopefully you take suggestions seriously.
I think there is enough government control already, people even young people will make their own choices.
None
I’ve seen adults buying for kids.
Most under age kids have someone buy them Tobacco products The vaping laws are already too much. If applicable child knows someone willing to buy for them they will get it. No law will stop that.
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