THE ONTARIO BAN ON SMOKING ON SCHOOL PROPERTY - ISSUES AND CHALLENGESIN ENFORCEMENT

We document implementation and enforcement activities undertaken by hi gh schools and health units with regard to the 1994 ban on smoking on school property in Ontario. Telephone interviews were conducted in ear ly summer 1996 with 213 high school administrators and 38 tobacco enfo rcement personnel in health units. While some schools are unclear abou t enforcement responsibility, most are making efforts to enforce the b an, including warning and suspending students. Some school administrat ors (30%) suggest the reinstitution of designated smoking areas on sch ool property. One quarter of health units had not made enforcement vis its to schools in the 1995-96 school year and a minority accounted for most of the warnings and tickets issued to students. While most tobac co enforcement officers perceive that schools support the ban, they re port some problems in obtaining cooperation in enforcement. However, o nly 11% suggest returning to designated smoking areas on school proper ty.