The University of Newcastle (UON), Australia, has announced that it is reversing its whole-campus ban on smoking and vaping, according to a story at planetofthevapes.co.uk.
‘UON is dedicated to providing a safe and healthy environment for staff, students and visitors to our campuses,’ the university was reported to have said in a written statement. ‘We are proud to support a smoke-free experience.
‘From September 2018, designated smoking areas have been introduced at three locations on our Ourimbah campus and at eight locations across the Callaghan campus…’
Instead of a total ban on smoking and vaping, albeit that vaping suffers a de facto ban across the whole of Australia, nicotine users can now use the shelters provided.
Nat McGregor, UON’s CEO said the decision made by the university’s executive committee had not been taken lightly. “The health and safety of our campus environments is a priority that can only be achieved through the responsible behaviour of all,” he said
“Unfortunately, we have clear evidence that our smoking restrictions were being ignored in enough volume to cause real concern. Our smoke-free initiative resulted in people smoking in areas that are not appropriately cleared, increasing the risk of fire, as well as causing pollution to our wetlands from discarded cigarette butts. After an extremely dry winter, the risk of bushfire is heightened this year, and appropriate action was needed to safeguard our community.”
The planetofthevapes report said it was to be hoped that the decision would feed into a more enlightened stance on alternative cessation products.
Currently, the UON’s website advice to vapers is that there is no convincing scientific evidence to indicate that any alternative quit smoking method increased the chances of quitting smoking. Moreover, it warns that vaping won’t work, will be expensive, and carries ‘significant health risks’.
The advice for smokers is that they should use their willpower or make use of counselling and nicotine replacement therapy.
University learns a lesson
