Although smoking has been banned on educational premises across the Netherlands since August 2020, complaints have persisted that not everyone in Maastricht is sticking to the rules. This is especially true in Randwyck, where the campus grounds – including the green areas around buildings – tend to be more extensive than in the city centre. As a result, smokers have to walk a bit farther before they can light up or use a vape.
The new stickers are the latest effort from the Faculties of Psychology and Neuroscience (FPN) and Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (FHML) to make people aware of the ban. Furthermore, red warning signs will soon be put up outside campus buildings, alongside the blue-and-white “Smoke-Free Generation” signs already in place. “Many international students and staff are unfamiliar with this national campaign”, explains Didier Vertommen, Head of Health, Safety and Buildings for both faculties. “The red signs make it clearer that smoking is prohibited. They also explicitly say that vaping is banned too, which not everyone seems to realise.”
The boundaries of the smoke-free zone have also been made more visible. “We used to have ‘warning tiles’ scattered across the campus, so it wasn’t very clear where the zone began and ended. Those tiles have been moved to the edges.” In lecture rooms, startup screens will now automatically show a map of the smoke-free zone. The faculties will also draw attention to the ban during the introduction for new students in August, as well as on social media.
“We’re taking a broad approach, trying to reach as many people as possible in different ways”, says Vertommen. “This is necessary, because we’re constantly welcoming new students and staff. We know it takes time for people to adjust – indoor smoking bans were once new too, and now they’re completely normal.” The campaign will initially focus on the practical side, like where smoking and vaping are and aren’t permitted. Later, the emphasis will shift towards quitting smoking and health. “That’s especially important to us as a faculty dedicated to health.”