Talbot Campus is changing this autumn.
We are running a smoke-free pilot until the end of November. This means that smoking, including vaping, will no longer be allowed within the boundaries of Talbot Campus.
This policy change strengthens our commitment to creating and maintaining a healthy environment for all our community and visitors. We have endorsed the principles of the Government’s ‘Smokefree by 2030’ target and have pledged to help reduce the harm caused by smoking. BU also believes that everyone on our campus has the right to a smoke-free learning and working environment without exception. Research has also shown that smoking by young people increased during the first lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are, therefore, initiating a smoke-free campus pilot. This will run from 1 September until 30 November 2023.
Here’s what you need to know.
Where exactly will smoking be prohibited?
Smoking and vaping will be prohibited at Talbot Campus at any time, including car parks, buildings, walkways, paths and when using BU vehicles. You can see the details on the map below.
Lansdowne Campus is not included in the pilot. The existing smoking policy still applies.
Who does this apply to?
All students, staff affiliate staff and visitors are expected to comply. Please make sure your visitors to campus are aware of the smoke-free campus pilot and adhere to it.
What smoking products are included in the pilot?
Both tobacco and vaping products are included in the pilot, so neither cigarettes nor e-cigarettes can be smoked on Talbot Campus. We understand that using nicotine containing products (NCPs) may be one way for smokers to cut down or stop. However, we are aware of concerns that e-cigarettes and vaping devices may attract non-smokers, including young people. This is contradictory to our commitment to a healthy environment for everyone. Furthermore, although they do not produce smoke, e-cigarettes produce a vapour that could provide an annoyance or health risk to others. Some e-cigarette models can also, from a distance, look like real cigarettes, making a smoke-free campus difficult to police, and creating an impression for others that it is acceptable to smoke.
Will there be any smoking bins at Talbot Campus?
All smoking bins and ashtrays will be temporarily covered over for the period of the pilot and alternative bins positioned at points around the perimeter of the campus.
What else do I need to know?
For the duration of the smoke-free campus pilot, BU will not sell or permit the sale of, advertise or otherwise promote any tobacco or smoking materials on campus. We are also discouraging smoking within privately-owned vehicles whilst the vehicles are on Talbot Campus grounds.
The decision to pilot a smoke-free campus is the culmination of consultations by BU with SUBU and our recognised trade unions via the Joint University Health and Safety Committee. While final responsibility for ensuring a smoke-free environment for the duration of the pilot remains with BU, this cannot be achieved without the support of our students and staff. We need you to work with us to provide a healthy environment for everyone. Therefore, if you see someone smoking on Talbot Campus, please politely inform them that this is not permitted while the pilot is ongoing.
The smoke-free campus pilot is not meant to be seen as a punitive step or intervention. It is an opportunity for the BU community to promote safer and healthier work and study spaces, and to influence cultural change.
What support is there, if I want to stop smoking?
If you are interested in using the pilot to help you give up smoking, you can find lots of great resources on the Live Well Dorset website. These include this short video about the physical benefits to your health from stopping smoking.
Throughout the pilot, we will provide opportunities for all students and staff to feedback on their experiences, including any concerns about compliance with the pilot, and we will share how you can do this with you shortly. This feedback will be collated and reviewed by the Joint University Health and Safety Committee, who will make subsequent recommendations to the University Executive Team.
If you have any questions about the smoke-free pilot, please get in touch by emailing the smoke-free campus pilot team.
