Trinity College and UCD are among the latest college campuses to adopt a 'smoke free campus' policy. The policy means that no outlet on the UCD or Trinity campuses can supply cigarettes or tobacco products in any shape or form, this ban hopes to decrease tobacco use and second hand smoke damage on campus.
This policy follows the lead of Athlone IT, smoking free campuses are expected to become the norm in the coming years. According to the AIT handbook the smoke free campus policy prohibits the use of any tobacco products on any premises managed by the college and applies to both students and staff.
Smoking is the leading preventable cause of premature death in the world and Ireland ranks 2nd highest for smoking related death in the EU, research shows that non-smokers who are regularly exposed to second-hand tobaccos smoke have an increased risk of illness. The Irish Heart Foundation reported that smoking is the cause of 2,500 strokes a year.
