Sixth form college to ban students from smoking in "neighbouring roads"

I was on BBC Cambridgeshire this morning discussing this statement by Long Road Sixth Form College:

Dear Student, Parents and Carers.

We have decided that from 9th June 2014 Long Road Sixth Form College will be a completely no smoking College. This will mean that students can no longer smoke on any area of the College campus nor on the adjoining roads. Addenbrooke’s hospital successfully introduced such a ban in January of this year so smoking has not been permitted on Robinson Way for the last 4 months. The no smoking rules will be implemented between 8.30am and 4.30pm and our students may not leave the site to smoke and then return to lessons. We will be monitoring the local roads, especially Long Road, Luard Road and Sedley Taylor Road.

There are several reasons for us to consider this is a sensible move to make.

Firstly, it is illegal to sell cigarettes to people aged under 18. Since October 2007 it is illegal to sell tobacco products, including cigarettes, tobacco and cigarette rolling papers to anyone under the age of 18. In January 2014, the government proposed to extend the ban to e-cigarettes and so we are including e-cigarettes in our definition of smoking.

Secondly, the well documented health risks associated with smoking. Every year around 100,000 people die from smoking, with many more deaths caused by smoking-related illnesses.

Thirdly, we believe that we need to prepare young people for the place of work and an increasing number of companies ask their workforce not to smoke in the environs of their buildings (eg Addenbrooke’s). In addition, there is no longer any safe place for students to smoke either on or close to the College site. The current smoking area has been designated for new buildings and there is no alternative location.

What we know about student smokers:
In January 2014 we surveyed the existing smoking area. At its busiest time there were 168 students in the area (although not all were smoking). 168 students represents 8% of the student population.

One third of the smokers said they had made a New Year resolution to give up smoking. A significant number had started smoking since the age of 16.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What support is available?
We have trained 2 members of staff as smoking cessation support staff and they will be running advice clinics and groups for students with immediate effect.

We will be working closely with [NHS] Smoke free, Action on Smoking and Health and other agencies to support people to stop smoking.

What happens to students who continue to smoke during the College day?
The College has a very effective disciplinary system based upon 3 warnings after which a student is asked to leave the college. We hope that it will not be necessary to use this, but for students who do not comply with the College rules we do implement this and will do so if there is a breach of the no smoking rules.

What about our neighbours?
The College has always endeavoured to work effectively with people who are employed or who live close to our premises. It is for this reason that we are asking students not to smoke in the adjoining roads or during the College day. We are part of the local community and want to continue to work in co-operation with everyone.

Will the rules apply to students aged over 18?
Yes, the College is a community for everybody and all the rules in place apply to all students regardless of their age. It would be impossible to have some rules which apply to some students but not to others. By enrolling at the College for an academic year, all students agree to comply with the Code of Conduct for the entire year.

Now, I don't advocate students smoking on college grounds, especially if they are under 18, but the new policy strikes me as excessive.

After all, if students are 18 or older is it really the college's business whether they smoke in the "neighbouring roads"?

The college threatens to "monitor" the adjoining roads. How? CCTV cameras are expensive so I assume they are going to give the job to teachers who will be asked to patrol the area or lurk in the bushes.

If students are entitled to leave the grounds during the day, as sixth form students usually are, the "neighbouring roads" are presumably public areas, so what authority does the college have to "monitor" them?

And at what point will "neighbouring roads" be extended to other areas?

What really bothers me is the mindless anti-smoking mantra, the preference for prohibition in place of education (or smoking areas!), and the undercurrent of intolerance.

Many of the students threatened with expulsion are not even children. They're 18, adults in the eyes of the law.

Ironically the April 2014 edition of the Long Road Sixth Form College newsletter has a block quote from a student that reads:

"I'm ready to be independent ... to be treated as an adult."

Perhaps Long Road should practise what it preaches.

Comments

[Pat Nurse]

Soon they'll be saying that students who smoke will be banned from doing any courses unless they quit and then they'll bang on about education inequalities an how people must be forced to quit because of that.

It is a bit like tackling health inequalities but first they have to be created - hence smokers are being banned from healthy fresh air outside while the smokerphobics demand they are not treated on the NHS.