Smoke-free and vape-free areas
All levels of government have a responsibility to protect, promote and improve health and wellbeing.
The Tobacco Act 1987 (the Tobacco Act) is a key piece of Victorian Government legislation that regulates smoking and vaping in public places, including the sale and display of tobacco and e-cigarette products.
In addition to the Victorian tobacco laws, the City of Melbourne has the authority to prohibit the smoking of tobacco in prescribed smoke-free areas under the Activities Local Law 2019 (Local Law).
The City of Melbourne have been successfully implementing smoke-free and vape-free areas since 2013. Following the pilot of a small CBD laneway which received strong community support, there are now 13 smoke-free and vape-free areas across the municipality.
According to the Cancer Council, a smoke-free and vape-free environment is the only way to fully protect non-smokers from the dangers of second-hand smoke.
Some people mistakenly think the 'cloud' from vaping is water vapour, like steam. It is really an aerosol - a mix of gases and tiny droplets of chemicals. These sticky chemicals can lodge in the lungs of people when they inhale.
The aerosol is made up of many of the chemicals in the e-liquid. These include chemicals with known health risks such as cancer and lung disease. Chemicals from e-cigarette aerosols can move from the lungs into the blood, then all around the body. It only takes 10 seconds for nicotine to move from the lungs to the brain.
It is an offence to smoke or use an e-cigarette in a designated smoke-free area. An education first approach is taken, however non-compliance may result in fines or prosecution.
Information regarding previous smoke-free and vape-free area consultations and upcoming consultations can be found on Participate Melbourne.
Looking for support to quit smoking or vaping?
Quitline 13 7848 is a welcoming, confidential telephone counselling service.
Quitline counsellors are qualified to listen and talk through ways to quit. They can also support you if you are using e-cigarettes to stop smoking and can help you stop vaping.
When you call Quitline, you speak confidentially with a qualified counsellor who can answer your questions without judgement, and support you on how you would like to quit. They’ll be there for you when you need them, at any stage of your quitting journey. Even if it takes a few attempts to stay quit.
Resources for creating smoke-free and vape-free areas
To create a smoke-free and vape-free area, the City of Melbourne conducts extensive face-to-face and online engagement with businesses, residents and people visiting the areas to shop and dine. Council carefully considers all feedback and submissions before prescribing an area smoke-free and vape-free. Decisions on smoke-free and vape-free area proposals are made at a Future Melbourne Committee meeting. Read more about council and committee meetings and reports.
The City of Melbourne has partnered with Quit Victoria to develop resources to support other local governments who are looking to implement smoke-free and vape-free areas. These resources include a guide on how to create a smoke-free and vape free area, and a map of smokefree Victoria.
To find out more about how City of Melbourne endorses a smoke-free and vape-free area, please read through the guide below.