{"id":152855,"date":"2023-04-06T11:21:45","date_gmt":"2023-04-06T09:21:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/?p=152855"},"modified":"2026-01-19T15:07:54","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T14:07:54","slug":"university-council-wants-stricter-enforcement-of-smoking-ban-on-campus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.erasmusmagazine.nl\/en\/2023\/04\/06\/university-council-wants-stricter-enforcement-of-smoking-ban-on-campus\/","title":{"rendered":"University Council wants stricter enforcement of smoking ban on campus"},"content":{"rendered":"

Three students are smoking outside the entrance to the Theil building. This is not actually allowed, but they are still doing it, despite the fact that university staff sometimes raise the issue with them. \u201cWe miss the smoking zones\u201d, says Ari, one of the smoking students.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\n\n<\/svg>\n<\/span>\n\tImage by:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPeer van Tetterode<\/a>\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>

The smoking zones were removed when a national law to establish smoke-free educational areas was introduced in 2020. According to Ari and her friends, this has only made smoking on campus worse. \u201cThe campus would be much cleaner if the smoking zones were still there, because now there are cigarettes on the ground all over the place\u201d, says Ari.<\/p>\n

Problem<\/h2>

University Council member Erin van Gestel raised the issue with the Executive Board after she spoke to several students who complained about it. \u201cThe problem has already been brought up at a meeting, where it was concluded that it isn\u2019t really the responsibility of the University Council\u201d, says Van Gestel. \u201cBut then I thought: people voted for me. When they ask me if I can do anything about it, it becomes<\/em> my responsibility.\u201d<\/p>\n

Smokers almost always smoke outside the entrances to buildings, causing the smoke to waft inside. \u201cI have severe asthma myself, so I find smokers at the entrances very annoying\u201d, says Van Gestel. According to her and the other members of the University Council, there should be stricter enforcement of the smoking ban, e.g. by means of more frequent checks by security guards or posters at the entrances to buildings. \u201cThis doesn\u2019t address the core of the issue, of course, so you also have to look at why people smoke or how you can help them stop. Better enforcement is also in the interests of the university itself, because if the Netherlands Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority comes to check and finds cigarettes on the campus grounds, the university could be fined up to 4,500 euros.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Executive Board has promised the Council that it will contact the communication department to explore ways to create greater awareness.<\/p>\n

Solution<\/h2>

According to Van Gestel, the university must put the health of non-smokers first, followed by that of smokers. \u201cThe university always advocates for the health of its students, whether mental or physical\u201d, she says. \u201cThe health of non-smokers can be guaranteed by at least removing the smokers from the entrances of buildings. You could also help smokers to quit, for example by offering nicotine patches.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nienke studies Communication and Media and smokes on campus from time to time. According to her, the smoking ban is not effective. \u201cI don\u2019t think the university can do much to get people to stop smoking. This is something that needs to be addressed at government level\u201d, she says. \u201cMaking educational areas smoke-free is a very good development, of course, but people will always find a way to meet their needs. A smoke-free campus won\u2019t stop them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\t

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