More efforts are needed to help people quit smoking and make smoking unattractive to young people. In 2009, smoking caused approximately 4,000 deaths in Victoria, with an SOC of approximately $2.4 billion to the economy. Smoking still has a huge impact on Victoria`s healthcare and productivity. The Tobacco Act prohibits smoking and vaping in more public places than ever before. In particular, you can`t smoke or vape: Stanwick said that since more people could start smoking in public after Oct. 17, many may not be aware of the regulations already in place. Good signage in these public spaces, he said, will be crucial. Law enforcement officials will first try to educate the smoker about the new restrictions and will only punish someone if they continue to defy the rules. Smoking and vaping are prohibited in your home if it is someone else`s workplace.

If workers or service providers, such as home care workers and do-it-yourselfers, come to your home, WorkSafeBC recommends quitting smoking 1 hour before they arrive. Is smoking or vaping allowed on the premises of the health authority? “The other concern is fine particles created by smoking marijuana, which can penetrate deep into the lungs,” Stanwick said. He added that the habit of taking a deep breath and holding one`s breath could draw the particles deep into the lungs and into the bloodstream, which could react with the lining of blood vessels. “There`s a good chance you`ll see an increase in heart attacks and strokes as a result of this smoking. Is it as bad as tobacco smoke in terms of carcinogens? No. Is it harmless? Absolutely not,” he said. Statistics show that Victoria`s tobacco laws are helping to reduce smoking rates. Many smoking and e-cigarette laws in Victoria and Australia aim to discourage young people from starting to smoke or use e-cigarettes. There are two situations where smoking and vaping are prohibited in a vehicle: Amendments to the Tobacco Act have expanded the areas where smoking and vaping are prohibited in Victoria.

Victoria`s anti-smoking and anti-vaping laws have been expanded to cover entrances to most public buildings in the state. Violations of smoke-free and vapour-free laws can result in a fine for the landlord, manager, tenant, and/or person who smokes or vapes. Victoria`s Tobacco Act 1987 prohibits smoking and the use of electronic cigarettes (vaping) in all enclosed workplaces and certain public spaces where the public gathers. There is support to help British Columbians quit smoking or use other tobacco products by helping with the cost of prescription smoking cessation drugs or nicotine replacement therapy products. For more information, visit www.quitnow.ca. The Capital Regional District Air Quality Regulations were amended in April to include vaping and marijuana use at the same level as smoking in public spaces. In Victoria, smoking or vaping is prohibited in public places such as parks, beaches and playgrounds, or within seven metres of doors, windows, bus stops or airplane outlets. Guests can enjoy outdoor terraces serving drinks and food. Check with hotel management for in-room smoking or vaping policies. Please note that many local governments have more restrictive laws.

Please check with your local government before making any changes to your premises. Also check with WorkSafeBC for additional workplace environmental requirements that may affect your operations. Restrictions on smoking and vaping in enclosed workplaces protect employees while leading to a decline in prevalence and consumption In recent years, e-cigarettes have emerged. The use of e-cigarettes or vaping may be less harmful than conventional smoking, however, potentially hazardous substances have been identified in the aerosol of e-cigarettes and the full and long-term health effects are not yet known. You may not smoke or vape in common areas of hotels such as lobbies, hallways and restaurants. You are not allowed to smoke within six metres of doors, open windows or air intakes around the hotel. Many municipalities have improved smoke-free ordinances that expand the buffer zone. Check with your local community about the laws in the area. To minimize the impact on the health of individuals and the community, Victoria has laws that control the sale of tobacco and e-cigarettes and where people can smoke or use e-cigarettes (vape). The legislation gives health authorities the discretion to establish designated outdoor smoking areas where the use of tobacco or vaping products is permitted. It is up to the health authorities to decide whether to designate an area for the use of one of these products, both or none of these products.

Owners and managers are required to take reasonable steps to prevent people from smoking or vaping within the six-metre buffer zone on their property. You are not required to enforce the Public Property Act, such as sidewalks, unless the person is under the owner`s control (e.g., a customer or customer) or an employee of the owner. For example, if you put a bank at the door of your store, you need to make sure people don`t use tobacco or vaping products. Tobacco laws and tobacco control initiatives have helped reduce smoking rates in Victoria – among adults and adolescents (see Tobacco Laws – Results to date). The advantage of legalization, Stanwick said, is that there will be more studies on the effects of smoking cannabis. People will also be able to know exactly what they are smoking without a doubt, less likely to inhale pesticides, herbicides or other toxins once the substance is regulated by the state. With cannabis legalised in just 16 days, October 1 also brings new rules for smoking (any substance) in Victoria`s public spaces. The Tobacco Advertising Act limits persuasive messages and images that encourage people to start or continue smoking or using tobacco products. Places that can be considered public or workplace include shops, offices and condominium/apartment building entrances, work vehicles (e.g. vans), public transport, taxis, cafes, casinos and pubs/bars. “There are still chemicals in those that claim to lack nicotine that can still be harmful,” he said. “Especially since these devices burn hotter, they can actually produce higher amounts of heavy metals, which you don`t want to inhale than cigarettes.” There are several health concerns behind the regulations.

Since cannabis is not yet a legal substance, Stanwick said there isn`t much data on the benefits and risks of marijuana smoke. What they do know is that, like alcohol, there is a psychoactive effect to ingesting (or inhaling) marijuana. Cannabis smoke can also restrict the airways and blood vessels. Then there are the carcinogens in smoke, where Stanwick said a California study found 33 substances classified as carcinogenic. As of 1 December 2012, all tobacco products sold, offered for sale or otherwise supplied in Australia must be packaged in plain packaging (as per the Tobacco Plain Packaging Act, 2011). Plain packaging is designed so that: Clean Air Regulations will begin fining vaping, tobacco and cannabis in Victoria`s public spaces Smoking and vaping are now banned at all stations, streetcar stops and bus stops in Victoria. Smoking and vaping are prohibited within four metres of the entrances to some Victorian government buildings. Dr Richard Stanwick, who works with Island Health, said: “The intent of the regulations is to provide clean air to the public.