Key messages
- Smoking and the use of e-cigarettes (vaping) is banned within 10 metres of any outdoor sports venue during an under-age sporting event.
- The ban complements and provides legislative support to existing smoke-free and vape-free policies at sports venues.
By law, smoking and vaping is banned within 10 metres (about two car lengths) of any public outdoor sporting venue during an organised under-18s event.
The ban includes training or practice sessions to prepare for an organised under-age sporting event, and breaks or intervals during the course of the event, training or practice session.
The ban also applies to outdoor drinking areas located within 10 metres of an outdoor sporting venue during an organised under-age sporting event or training session.
Sporting venues creating their own policy
If a sports venue has its own smoking and vaping ban in place, the statewide ban will act as a minimum standard, with any further requirements put in place by the sports venue applying in addition to the legislative ban.
For example, if a sporting club has a smoke-free and vape-free policy for all sporting events, both the club's policy and the statewide ban will apply during children's sporting events at the venue. Only the club's policy will apply during other sporting events at the venue.
The Victorian Government encourages all sporting clubs to consider how to make their venues smoke-free and vape-free places for people to play sport and socialise.
Quit Victoria has developed a series of useful resources to guide sports clubs and community sporting organisations wishing to 'go smoke-free and vape-free'.
To view these resources and the 'guide to going smoke-free' visit the Quit Victoria, Sporting Groups page.
These policies would be the responsibility of sporting clubs and venues to enforce.
Signage and resources
The operators of under-18s sporting events can order or download signage, posters, brochures and palm cards from the Resources and factsheets page.
'No smoking' signs are available to order free of charge through the online order form on the Resources and factsheets page. Electronic versions of 'No smoking or vaping' signs can also be downloaded from this page.
The following diagrams provide examples of where the ban applies.
No smoking or vaping area at football ovals
In the diagram above, an under-age sporting event is taking place on football ovals B, C and D, but not oval A. In this situation, the smoking and vaping ban would apply at or within 10 metres of ovals B, C and D.
No smoking or vaping area at netball courts
In the diagram above, an under-age sporting event is taking place on netball courts A and B, but not on the football oval. In this situation the smoking and vaping ban would apply at or within 10 metres of the netball courts and the accompanying spectator seating area.
No smoking or vaping area at cricket oval
No smoking or vaping area at soccer ground
Resources
Updated