Resources Library – Smoke-Free Environments – Indoor Public Places

Smoke-Free Environments – Indoor Public Places

In the last decade, there has been a considerable effort to ban smoking indoors, such as in restaurants, shopping malls and community centres. Most New Brunswickers know that the reason we have banned smoking in public indoor spaces is that second-hand smoke isn’t good for them.

New Brunswick’s Smoke-Free Places Act was first introduced in October 2004 and made radical changes by banning smoking in all enclosed public spaces (including restaurants and bars) and indoor workplaces. On January 1, 2010, the ban was expanded to include vehicles with children under 16 present, ensuring more protection for young people from the health risks associated with second-hand smoke.

The Smoke-Free Places Act was then amended on July 1, 2015, to add various public outdoor spaces to the list of designated smoke-free spaces and keep up with the growing movement for smoke-free environments as research revealed the dangers of second-hand smoke in an outdoor setting.

In response to the arrival of vaping products on the Canadian market, and talks about an impending legalization of cannabis, the Smoke-Free Places Act’s definition of smoke was broadened in November 2016 to any substance that is intended to be inhaled or exhaled (tobacco, cannabis, e-juices for vaping devices, and all other substances).

While tobacco and vaping products remain legal, restricting areas where these can be used does help to limit exposure to second and third-hand smoke, lower smoking and vaping product use initiation rates, and foster wellness-supportive environments for all New Brunswickers, especially those who are most vulnerable.

The New Brunswick Anti-Tobacco Coalition (NBATC) believes we all win when we can live, work, and play in 100% smoke-free environments. We encourage you to be a Wellness Champion by choosing to live tobacco and smoke-free and reminding others to please respect all designated smoke-free environments.

Legislation & Policies

See our Smoke-Free Environments page for the complete list of all designated smoke-free spaces required by law in New Brunswick.

Reporting Smoking and Vaping Violations

See our Smoke-Free Environments page.

Signage

See our Smoke-Free Environments page for information on signage requirements, as well as downloadable signs and templates.

Dangers of Exposure to Second and Third-Hand Smoke

See our Smoke-Free Environments page for information on the importance of smoke-free environments and the dangers of second and third-hand smoke.

Learning Opportunities

Are you a community leader, health care professional, or policymaker? Recommended resources to consult are listed on our Smoke-Free Environments or you to learn more about:

• statistics on smoking rates and exposure to second-hand and third-hand smoke;
• public health information on smoking and vaping; and
• aligning your efforts with those already underway nationally and provincially.