Christchurch considering ‘vapefree’ areas policy

CHRISTCHURCH: ‘‘Smokefree’’ areas in Christchurch could also become ‘‘vapefree’’.

The Christchurch City Council adopted a Smokefree Public Places Policy in 2009, but with the growth in popularity of vaping products and recent legislative changes, the council wanted to amend its policy to include vaping.

The council’s draft Smokefree and Vapefree Public Places Policy would cover publicly owned areas which included parks, playgrounds, bus shelters, entrances of council buildings, footpaths for outdoor dining use, and council events.

The draft policy was not a ban on smoking or vaping in a public place, but ‘‘. . . about encouraging compliance in the spirit of promoting healthy lifestyle changes’’. — The New Zealand Herald