Sheffield's playgrounds go smoke-free

Sheffield City Council has launched a smoke free playground policy across Sheffield’s 152 playgrounds. Signs, developed in collaboration with Sheffield school children, are going up in children’s playgrounds across the city. The voluntary code came into effect on 22 July 2016. Councillor Mary Lea, cabinet member for Culture, Leisure and Parks at Sheffield City Council, said: 'We want to change social norms around smoking and reduce the number of children who start smoking each year in the city. Creating smoke free playgrounds will help to ensure that children do not view smoking as a normal and desirable behaviour and are less likely to start smoking.'

The policy comes as a result of a consultation with 1500 local people including smokers, non-smokers, parents, non-parents and e-cigarette users. This identified strong support from both smokers and e-cigarettes users, with four in five backing a smoke free playground voluntary code in Sheffield.

The consultation results also showed:

• 91% of people taking part in the consultation are in favour of a smoke free playground voluntary code in Sheffield


• 86% of people are in favour of not smoking within 10 meters of children’s playgrounds


• 73% of people are in favour of not using e-cigarettes within 10 meters of children’s playgrounds


• 91% of people are in favour of smoke free signage