UPEI going completely smoke free by Sept. 1

Back to school means no smoking whatsoeverat the University of Prince Edward Island.

UPEI is promoting a smoke-free campus by introducing a new tobacco use policy effective Sept. 1.

The policybansthe use ofcigarettes, electronic cigarettes, water pipes, cigars andtobacco in any form on campus. It also bansthe advertising, promotion, sale anddistribution oftobacco. Exceptions will be made for Indigenous cultural ceremonies.

"It's looking at it from a larger picture and saying, OK, if you don't want to be exposed to tobacco products, we're going to help make sure that is the case, and that'll help everyone in the larger scheme of things on a health level," explained UPEIcommunications officer Dana Kenny.

Kenny said enforcement won't be heavy handed. People caught smoking will be informed of the policy and asked to stop.

UPEI joins Holland College, Acadia, Saint Mary's, Dalhousie, Memorial andthe Marine Institute as schools that have introduced smoke-free policies in Atlantic Canada.

The new tobacco use policy will be reviewed in 2022.

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