All indoor workplaces, public buildings and public transport are all smokefree – it’s the law. Find out more - Smoking at work: the law.
Some outdoor spaces are also smokefree. Although this isn’t currently backed by a formal law, it’s possible to do it because property owners can choose to prohibit smoking on their premises. You’ll see no smoking signs at outdoor areas of all hospitals, at all train stations, at some children’s play areas and at some outdoor attractions.
Making outdoor spaces smokefree is beneficial because:
- It reduces secondhand smoke exposure for others
- It helps people who are trying to give up smoking
- It denormalises smoking for children, who are then less likely to see adults smoking
If your business or facility is interested in making your outdoor areas smokefree, you can download this [smokefree toolkit checklist] to help you.
What about vaping?
Vaping isn’t currently covered by any of the smokefree legislation. But proposals are being considered now which may change this in future.
Vaping is less harmful than smoking, but that doesn’t mean it is harmless. Vapes haven’t been around that long, so we don’t yet know all the potential long-term impacts. So vaping is not recommended for non-smokers, and the NHS recommends not vaping near to young children as a precaution.
If you don’t smoke, don’t start to vape!