UBCs Smoking Policy and its

Controversy.

UBC has long established a smoking policy, written in UBC Policy 15

since 1991. The policy regulates campus smoking around public
buildings and enclosed areas; it states smoking is prohibited [on
campus] in all UBC buildings, eight metres from any doorway or
building air intakes, and in (and eight metres around) bus shelters
(UBC Policy 15, page 2), although it is seldom enforced. The smoking
bylaw has caused controversies around the campus. Some students
agree with the policy and think it should be enforced more often, while
others held different opinions. A careful assessment about the health
hazards, possible solutions to enforce the policy, and consideration of
the smoking population should be made before drawing conclusions.
Second-hand smoking has been known notoriously for its
health effects on the non-smokers. It is also the main reason behind
UBC Policy 15. Reliable studies have shown that second-hand smoke
has at least twice the amount of carbon monoxide-a deadly gas that
robs the blood of oxygen. (Canadian Lung Association), while the U.S
Department of Health and Human Services also points out Nonsmokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke increase their heart

disease risk by twenty-five to thirty percent.(2006), and breathing

second-hand smoke has immediate harmful effect on the
cardiovascular system that can increase the risk for heart attack.
People who already have heart disease are at especially high
risk.(2014).Evidently second-hand smoking brings heavy effects to
the non-smokers inhaling the smoke. While smoking already produces
great health hazards to the smokers, second-hand smokers can also
suffer from cardio system damage and the accumulation of cancerous
elements. It is not difficult to imagine the devastating effects has a
smoker stand by a close-aired building and delivers second-hand
smoke continuously into the building; the smoke will keep increase in
concentration and threaten peoples health inside the building. Serious
health concern has brought British Columbias Ministry of Health to
introduced the buffer zone idea in the BC Tabaco Control Act in 1996;
a smoke-free buffer zone is created around doorways, open windows,
and air intakesNo smoking is allowed within 3metres of doorways,
opening windows, or air takes.(Chapter 451, p1).UBCs Policy 15
follows the Tabaco Control Acts format, expect the prohibited zone has
been increased from three metres to eight metres at UBC campus.
Currently the campus-smoking policys problem is the lack of
execution; from time to time smokers on campus break in the buffer
zone and smoke, being aware or un-aware of the zones existence.
(reference to picture 1) There are several solutions available. One of
the most criticized aspect of the policy in smokers opinion is that they
have to walk away from buildings and bus shied to smoke, even during

poor weathers (which is not uncommon in Vancouver); the smokers

may complain such policy is inconvenient for them. Indoor smoking
room is a solution the author originally proposed, which is weather
proofed and provides an alternative location for smokers to go;
however after research this rout seems impossible. The building costs
will not be small while maintaining in-door smoking facilities in every
building will also not be an easy task, in addition air ventilation must
be extremely well to prevent second-hand smoke leakage. Overall the
plan is not realist in universities because of the huge population in
need and to maintain such facilities is over-complicated. An example of
a well designated indoor smoking space is a DSR Long Term Care
Facility, where it is has to satisfy conditions of fully enclosed, and has
a fan/ direct ventilation exhaust system that provides a ventilation
rates of not less than 15 air changes per hour (Designated Smoking
Area, PEI Department of Health and Wellness); such requirements are
not realistic for universities such as UBC to follow. Other options
included outdoor smoking tents, which are easier to construct and
require less care.

The problems again, however, come in the

ventilation issue; if the ventilation is not well done, they will just be
another source of second-hand smoke to non-smokers. Proper air
ventilated construction can cost as much as ten thousand per outdoor
unit (Global Industrial), as the same with indoor smoking rooms, the
price is not realistic for mass construction in universities. An alternative
solution can be to set these out door smoking tents in remote areas to
avoid smoke leakage; this solution may cause smokers inconvenience
to walk away from populated routs, but it is better than no weather

proofed locations at all. However a caution to take is pointed out by a

student in the authors interview (later will be mentioned in detail):
Building these tents can be interpreted as the university supporting
smoking, [which is the opposite message the university tries to
spread], and cause opposition from the public. (Sicilia, interview)
A possible reason that smokers on campus intrude the buffer zone is
that they do not know about the policy, or possibly eight metre is an
ambiguous measurement to follow. Hospitals such as St. Paul hospital
and Strong Memorial Hospital of the University of Rochester have
clearly marked smoke prohibited zone around them (Professor
Catherines email), the brightly marked lines on the ground clearly
indicate the buffer zones distance (photos can be seen on the last
page). Drawing lines can be an easy solution; applying the same
concept to all the UBC buildings, the lines are easily drawn and require
almost no maintains at all. In this way most students will understand
the buffer zone and many hopefully will appreciate its existence. One
possible concern could be the lines sacrifice the universitys beauty
and the buildings cleanness. Other methods to increase buffer zones
noticeability include posting more-and larger-signs around the buffer
zone, and posting second-hand smokings effects information to raise
awareness among the smokers. These soft methods are passive
measures that can hopefully change smokers habits and decrease
their smoking in the buffer zone. A hard method is simple-hiring
patrols around campus and stop policy violators on sight, although this
method is human resource consuming and might not feel pleasant to

the smoking population, as if they are being watched and controlled. It

might be a better option to convince smokers will other than adding
pressure to them by hard method, despite it requires longer time.
Another more creative method is adding umbrellas around the campus
for smokers usage only; this is a product that has actually been
created by a company named Boxers Gifts. The umbrella is decorated
by cigarettes cartoon, which indicates it is for smokers only (the
university can always change the cartoon is to plainly Smokers
Umbrella to avoid speculation), and brilliantly attaches an ashbin on
the handle that provide a great way to save cigarette littering. It is
almost not a concern that non-smokers will steal the umbrellas,
because he/she will be identified as smokers. Having the umbrella
stations around campus can provide the smokers a way to smoke in
any weather.
Currently there are different voices about UBCs policy 15.
Supporters claim that an affective buffer zone sets university to be a
role model in the community at health aspect (Amy Procter-Scherdtel
and Damian Collins, Oxford Journals- Health Education Research
article1,2), while the people not agreeing with the policy express that
the policy is invading their freedom to smoke at locations by their will.
(Carman Chai, Global News3). To gather students opinions about the
1 The article clamed Universities are understood as community leaders and role
modelsUniversities are viewed as institutions with a mandate to promote health
(Oxford Journal-Health Education Research article, P1)
2One of the journals student representative says There are so many health-care
professional coming out of this school, it seems backward to me that they dont
have [ a more restrictive] policy in place (Justin, Advocacy, Alberta)
3 B.C Civil Liberties Associations executive director Josh Paterson told Global News
Its a public space and its a legal activity. When you have restraints on these

policy for suitable solutions and improvements, the author conducted a

personal interview with various individuals on campus for their
opinions about the current policy and ways for improvements. Sicilia, a
student from Italia(she wishes to be identified), expresses that I
found it strange at first for transition that in my home country smoking
is a lot freer, but you do it the way they do here, you know. But I
respect the policy, I also really care about non-smokers health, thats
why I always smoke here (away from the buffer zone) and never smoke
in my house either. While her friend, Angelina from Coria (also wishes
to be identified), tells the author that Once another person told me
that I will die soon (just because she was smoking, she was also
outside the buffer zone). They both agree that (as smokers) the buffer
zone is a policy they respect and will follow, but non-smokers should be
more considerate and respectful toward them. Generally all the nonsmokers the author interviewed appreciate the policy and some even
wishes to increase the prohibited area.
Of all the solutions mentioned, the author recommends the
prohibited lines, outdoor smoking tents (if placed away from population
concentrated area), better signage, and the smokers umbra system. It
is a pleasant surprise to discover many smokers actually care about
non-smokers health and support the policy. Effective and easy
solutions should look for ways to indicate the zone clearly (people
know the rule but not necessary how to follow); raise awareness about
second-hand smokings effect, by more signage around the zone; and
legal activities, they need to have proper justification because youre infringing on
peoples right of choice, (Global News, Should Smoking ban)

be considerate to each other by giving convenience to smokers from

outdoor tents and umbrellas, in return for their sacrifice of freedom.
Patrolling is not recommended, as we all live in a community where we
think for each other, solutions to a problem should not causes hostility
against any group of people. By the soft methods and a bit of
creativity, the author believes the smokers will ultimately be convinced
to leave the buffer zone.
Pictures:
1) Current UBCs policy issue:

2) The Buffering Line:

2) Hospitals Buffering Zone:

3)The Smokers Umbrella

Reference Siting:
1. Americans for Non-smokers Rights, American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation,
last updated April 2014, Web, <http://www.no-smoke.org/learnmore.php?
dp=d14%7Cd35%7Cp213>
2. Amy Procter-Scherdtel and Damian Collins, Social norms and smoking bans on
campus: interactions in the Canadian university context, Oxford Journal-Health

Education Research Health Educ. Res. (2012)/ doi: 10.1093/her/cys075/ First

published online: June 20, 2012, web, <
http://her.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/06/20/her.cys075.full>
3. BC Tobacco Control Act, British Columbia Minister of Health, Chapter 451, page
1, 1996, web, <
http://www.bclaws.ca/civix/document/id/complete/statreg/96451_01>, Victoria,
British Columbia
4. Carman Chai, Should smoking bans extend to public parks and beaches?
Debate sparks controversy in Canada, Global News, n. page, Web, 7/8 2013.
5. Designated Smoking Area, Prince Edward Island Ministry of Health and
Welling, Wed, n. page, 9/29 2010
6. Global Industrial US-Product information, commercial webpage, <
https://www.globalindustrial.ca/c/outdoor-groundsmaintenance/shelters/shelters>,
7. Hyattsville, MD, U.S National Center for Health Statistics Health, United States,
2006 With Chartbook on Trends in the Health of Americans, 2006
8. UBC Policy 15, University of British Columbia-Administration and Finance, page
2, November 2007
9. Rockville MD, 50 Years of Progress: A Report of the Surgeon General , U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services., The Health Consequences of
Smoking. Atlanta: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, [accessed
2014 Mar 4].
10. Wharf Higgins SJ, Lauzon LL, Yew AC, et al. Wellness 101: health education for
the university student. Health Education Research, 9/27, 2010
11. [], Tabaco and Smoking, Canada Lung Association, September 24, 2012, web,
< http://www.lung.ca/protect-protegez/tobacco-tabagisme/secondsecondaire/index_e.php>
12. Interview: By me, in front of Irving Librarys Wall, participants include Sicilia,
Angelina, and other unidentified students, 3/19, 2014.
13. Picture 1) My phone
14. Picture 2), web, < https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/strong-memorial/servicesamenities/services/smoking-policy/smoke-free/map.aspx>
15. Picture 3) No Smoking Beyond this Line YouTube Video, web, <

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qM-PKYZmjnw>
16. Picture 4) Boxers Gift, Web, <
http://www.play.com/stores/BoxerGifts/listing/683648760>

Special gratitude for Professor Catherins ideas of prohibited line and the image, as
well as Sicilian and Angelina who are willing to be identified in the interview
Some of the paragraphs have been viewed by an Irving Writing Centres volunteer;
she commented on ways to improve the contents, which the author appreciates a
lot.
Sicilia and Angelina: