Policies

Mount Eliza Soccer Club Smoke Free Policy for a total ban on smoking.

Rationale

Legislation and the legal duty of care provide clear reasons to have a totally smokefree club. Going totally smokefree will help our club comply with these responsibilities and provide a healthier club environment.

Amended Tobacco Act 1987 (VIC): bans smoking within 10 metres of an outdoor public sporting venue during an organised underage sporting event. Playgrounds are also now permanently smokefree.

Common law: the club has a legal duty to ensure that employees, volunteers, members, spectators, players, officials and visitors are not exposed to potentially harmful situations.

Role Modelling: can have a significant impact on the junior members of the club. A smokefree policy can make smoking less visible and less socially acceptable, whilst creating a healthier and more attractive environment for new members and sponsors.

Effects on others: Second-hand smoke is considered irritating and hazardous to the health of other people, even when outdoors. Children may be at risk of swallowing discarded cigarette butts, which may cause symptoms of nicotine poisoning such as vomiting.

Smokefree Areas: may support people who are trying to quit or reduce their cigarette consumption. They also help reduce cigarette butt litter and reduce fire risks.

Accordingly, the following smokefree policy has been developed by Mt Eliza Soccer Club.

Who is affected by the policy

This policy applies to all members, administrators, officials, coaches, players, spectators, visitors and volunteers of the Mt Eliza Soccer Club all times.

Timing

This policy is effective from April 22 2017.

Smokefree areas

The Mt Eliza Soccer Club requires the entire area of the Mt Eliza Soccer Club ground and facility to be smokefree. This includes:

all indoor areas (Victorian legislation states that enclosed workplaces must be smokefree)
all outdoor playing/training/dining/drinking areas
spectator viewing areas
car parks
in vehicles that are within the boundary of the sporting ground

Where possible, the smokefree status of our club will be clearly signed at the entrance to, and within the club grounds.

Smokefree areas will be promoted in club materials from time to time.

Position on electronic cigarettes

Electronic cigarettes may be harmful to users and to those exposed to second hand vapour. In addition, the use of electronic cigarettes may give children and young adults the impression that smoking is a normal or desirable behaviour. This policy therefore applies to both electronic cigarettes and traditional cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes are not permitted to be used in any of the smokefree areas referred to in this policy

De-normalising smoking

Members of Mt Eliza Soccer Club are to refrain from smoking while they are acting in an official capacity for the club or while in club uniform, even when at away games.

Supporting members who smoke

St Kilda Football Club may on occasion promote smoking cessation resources such as the Quitline on club materials.

Following the policy

There is strong community support for banning smoking in public places, particularly those regularly attended by children. This means most people will voluntarily comply with the smoking ban and expect others to do so.

Should a person be smoking in our club grounds, the matter should be referred to President or secretary of the club.

Should a club executive committee representative choose to approach a person who is smoking in a smokefree area, they should:

Assume that the person is unaware of the policy.
Politely ask them to stop smoking and let them know about the club’s smokefree policy.
Let them know about the Mt Eliza Soccer Club’s decision to go completely smokefree.
If unresolved, refer the incident to the club committee.

Sale of tobacco products

The Mt Eliza Soccer Club will not sell tobacco products.

Policy review

This policy will be reviewed six months after its introduction and then on an annual basis thereafter. This will ensure that the policy remains current and practical.