Newport Beach Gets an 'F' On Tobacco Report Card

The American Lung Association slapped a big red F on the city's amenability to those wishing a cigarette smoke-free environment.

The health organization on Wednesday released its annual State of Tobacco Control report, and Newport Beach was at the back of the pack. Newport received an F grade, along with 30 other Orange County cities, including the unincorporated area of OC.

The 2012 report card listed only four cities in the county that fared better on their overall grade: Laguna Hills (C), Laguna Woods (C), Santa Ana (D) and Seal Beach (D). A year ago, Seal Beach was not on that list; the other cities' grades remained the same.

The report was based on a city's provision for smoke-free outdoor air, smoke-free housing and reducing sales of tobacco products. Newport Beach received a D for smoke-free outdoor air, and failing grades in the other two areas.

• Check the State of Tobacco Control pdf that's attached and see results for Orange County cities on pages 55-56.

In total, there were 16 areas within those three categories in which cities could have scored up to 4 points for an A, 3 points for a B, etc. An example would be how well a city maintains smoke-free entryways (smoking prohibited within 20 feet or more for an A grade) or public events.

Other cities that failed to get a single positive mark in the report: Rancho Santa Margarita, Aliso Viejo, Anaheim, Brea, Buena Park, La Habra, Orange, Placentia, San Juan Capistrano, Stanton, Tustin, Villa Park, Westminster and Yorba Linda.