New bans in SA now in effect about smoking and vaping near ECEC settings

Bans around smoking and vaping in a raft of places in South Australia are now in effect, with fines in place for those caught flouting the law. 

From 1 March, no-smoking and vaping zones will be expanded to include outdoor swimming pools, children’s sporting events, beaches near patrol flags and jetties and outside shopping centre entrances, early childhood education and care (ECEC) settings, schools and hospitals.

The new zones significantly increase the number of outdoor places in SA where smoking and vaping is banned, in addition to the current smoke-free laws which include outdoor dining areas, playgrounds and public transport shelters, and have been introduced under new laws to protect the community from passive exposure to tobacco smoke and vape exhalant, following extensive consultation.

People caught smoking or vaping in any of the banned outdoor zones face on-the-spot fines of $105 and penalties of up to $750 if prosecuted.

“We make no apologies for stamping out vaping and smoking in a range of public outdoor spaces. Smoking is our biggest preventable killer and cause of disease and the rates of young people vaping and becoming addicted is alarming,” SA’s Minister for Health and Wellbeing Chris Picton said.

“South Australians want to enjoy their public spaces, including outdoor pools and kids’ sporting grounds, free from harmful tobacco smoke and e-cigarette vapour.”

Tackling the health crisis of vaping and smoking will be a key focus of a brand-new prevention agency Preventive Health SA that has launched in South Australia this week.

Preventive Health SA brings together Wellbeing SA and parts of Drug and Alcohol Services SA in a single independent agency to strengthen the prevention agenda in South Australia.

Its prevention priorities will include tobacco, vaping, obesity, mental health, suicide prevention, alcohol and other drugs, and the determinants of health.

A ‘Clearing the Air’ advertising campaign has also been launched to explain how the new laws will work, before a second burst of the ‘Vape Truths’ campaign kicks off in mid-March. Dr Karl Kruszelnicki, a popular Australian science presenter, will feature and deliver a range of messages about the risks of vaping.

These ‘Vape Truths’ advertisements will feature on digital and social media platforms, as well as in shopping centres, on buses, and on regional and metro radio. The ads, which explain more about the risks of vaping and support for quitting, can be found on the Be Vape Free website.