New smoke-free and vape-free outdoor area laws
Published 5th March 2024
From 1 March 2024, new laws banned smoking and vaping in a variety of public outdoor areas in South Australia. Regulations under the South Australian Tobacco and E-Cigarette Products Act 1997 were introduced by the SA Government to address risks associated with passive tobacco smoking and passive inhalation of e-cigarette aerosol.
This means the creation of smoke-free and vape-free areas in the following areas:
- at early childhood services premises, and education and children’s services facilities (including schools), and within ten (10) metres of their boundaries
- at and within ten (10) metres of non-residential building entrances, such as entrances to shopping centres, government and commercial buildings
- at public hospitals and health facilities, private hospitals and residential aged care facilities, and within ten (10) metres of their boundaries
(note: the regulation for residential aged care facilities will come into operation 12 months after the day on which the other regulations are made) - within outdoor public swimming facilities
- at major events venues declared under the Major Events Act 2013
- at and within ten (10) metres of a sporting venue during an organised underage sporting event, training or practice session
- on beaches between and within fifty (50) metres of red and yellow patrol flags, and under (and within five (5) metres of) jetties.