Trinity Counts Down to Tobacco Free Zones on Campus
Posted on: 31 May 2016
The launch of the countdown to the opening of three Tobacco Free Zones on Trinity’s main campus took place on World No Tobacco Day, 31 May 2016.
The Vice-Provost / Chief Academic Officer, Professor Linda Hogan activated the countdown clock to the installation of the Tobacco Free Zones on 1 July 2016. In these zones, smoking will be prohibited both indoors and outdoors.
The three zones are the Fellows’ Square zone, Day Nursery/Health Centre zone and Lloyd/Sports Centre zone. A map is available here. Elsewhere on campus smokers continue to be asked not to smoke within four metres of doors and windows as per Trinity's smoking policy which has been in place since 2011.
Speakers at the countdown event in addition to the Vice-Provost included Dr David McGrath, Chair of Healthy Trinity: Tobacco Policy Group and Director of Trinity’s Health Service, Dr Pat Doorley, Chairman, ASH Ireland, Conor Clancy, Welfare Officer, TCDSU and Professor Shane Allwright, Registrar. Professor Allwright’s input to and experience of the introduction of the Irish legislation banning workplace smoking was invaluable to Trinity’s Tobacco Policy Group.
The introduction of these Tobacco Free Zones follows extensive consultation on Trinity’s Tobacco Policy with the college community coordinated by Martin Mullin, Trinity’s Health Promotion Officer resulting in more than 10,000 interactions with students and staff. The proposal went through three iterations and the Board approved proposal had consensus from the Students’ Union, the Graduate Students’ Union and the University. You can learn more about why the zones were chosen here.
People are being asked to refrain from smoking out of consideration for other people who walk through, study or work in these areas, to encourage a cleaner campus, and to make Trinity a healthier campus.
Student ambassadors have been recruited to assist in the implementation of the Tobacco Free Zones and it is hoped that all of the Trinity community will help to encourage people to keep the zones smoke free.
A Covered Smoking Area is being provided adjacent to the Fellows’ Square zone. It is located on the podium diagonally across from the entry to the 24 hour Kinsella Reading Room.
If you’re thinking of stopping smoking, Trinity provides a six week stop smoking course for staff and students. This free support service will be run on an ongoing basis and more information can be found here.