UQ to be smoke-free in a month

Today is World No Tobacco Day – and The University of Queensland will be smoke-free one month from now.

UQ Chief Operating Officer Mr Greg Pringle said smoking would not be permitted on any UQ sites from 1 July.

“UQ is internationally recognised as a leader in health research, education and training, and we are committed to matching that level of excellence with best practice policy and a healthy campus environment,” Mr Pringle said.

“Tobacco-related harm to health and wellbeing through direct or second-hand exposure is well established, and our decision to go smoke-free aligns with our responsibility and desire to provide healthy and vibrant campuses,” he said.

The World Health Organisation’s No Tobacco Day campaign aims to increase awareness of the link between tobacco and heart and other cardiovascular diseases, including stroke, which combine as the world’s leading causes of death.

UQ will be joining all Queensland public universities and TAFE Queensland campuses in becoming smoke-free by July 1 2018.

Mr Pringle said information and resources to support staff and students who wanted to stop smoking was available on the UQ Wellness website.

Campus boundary maps are available here.

Read what our UQ experts have to say about this issue in Contact Magazine.

Media: Vicki McNabb, uqwellness@uq.edu.au, +61 7 336 51516.