Second-hand smoke
Second-hand smoke refers to smoke from a person’s cigarette, pipe or cigar. It is also known as passive smoke, environmental smoke and involuntary smoke. It is smoke inhaled by a person who has not made the choice to smoke.
There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke. Second-hand smoke increases the risk of cancer and other smoking-related diseases. The risk increases with the amount and duration of second-hand smoke exposure.
Smoke and vape free environments are the most effective way to reduce second-hand smoke exposure. South Australia has comprehensive legislation to protect the community from exposure to second-hand smoke in many indoor areas and public places.
Tobacco legislation and regulation
In South Australia, the Tobacco and E-Cigarette Products Act 1997 regulates the sale, supply, promotion and use of tobacco and e-cigarette products, as well as the areas where smoking and vaping are prohibited.
A tobacco product is defined as:
- cigarettes
- electronic cigarettes (vape)
- cigars
- cigarette or pipe tobacco
- shisha tobacco
- tobacco prepared for chewing or sucking
- snuff
- any other product of a kind prescribed by regulation that is comprised of or contains tobacco
- any product (other than an e-cigarette product) that does not contain tobacco but is designed for smoking.
For more information about the smoking rules and regulations in South Australia, visit the SA Health website.
Recent smoke and vape free areas in South Australia
In March 2024, the Tobacco and E-Cigarette Products Act 1997 designated that the following areas were to be smoke and vape free in South Australia:
- Early childhood services premises, and education and children’s services facilities (including schools), and within 10 metres of their boundaries.
- Non-residential building entrances such as entrances to shopping centres, government and commercial buildings, and within 10 metres of their boundaries.
- On public and private hospital grounds including 10 metres from the property boundary.
- Within 5 metres of any part of a building comprising a residential aged care facility, from 7 December 2026.
- At outdoor swimming facilities.
- Within major event venues declared under the Major Events Act 2013.
- Sporting venues during organised underage sporting events, training or practice sessions, and within 10 metres of the venue boundaries.
- On beaches within 50 metres of red and yellow patrol flags or within five metres of jetties (including under jetties).
For more information see SA Health’s Guide to the new smoke-free and vape-free laws webpage.
Other smoke and vape free areas in South Australia
Outdoor dining areas
Smoking and vaping is banned in outdoor dining areas. An outdoor dining area is an open public area where tables and/or chairs are permanently or temporarily provided for the purpose of public dining.
The ban extends to cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, and pipes (including shisha, hookah, and water pipes).
For more information, visit the SA Health website.
Enclosed public areas and workplaces
Smoking and vaping is banned in all enclosed or indoor public spaces, shared areas, and workplaces.
Enclosed spaces are defined as spaces where 70 per cent or more of the space is enclosed with walls and/or ceilings. This includes spaces that have shade sails, umbrellas, lattice and louvers.
Public spaces include shopping malls, hospitality venues, enclosed sports and recreation venues and enclosed workplaces. Shared areas include enclosed stairwells, carparks, foyers, corridors, laundries, kitchens and common rooms.
Prisons are also smoke-free in South Australia.
For more information about smoke-free enclosed public areas, visit the SA Health website.
Playgrounds
Smoking and vaping are banned within 10 metres of a children's public playground.
This includes playgrounds in parks, schools, sporting venues, restaurants, hotels, and businesses. It doesn’t include BMX tracks or outdoor exercise equipment, except where exercise equipment is co-located with a children’s playground.
Public transport waiting areas
All forms of smoking are banned under all covered public transport waiting areas — including bus, tram, train and taxi shelters — and other areas used to board or alight from public transport that are covered by a roof, including a veranda or roof from an adjacent building.
For more information, visit the SA Health website.
Creating smoke-free workplaces
Beyond the legal requirement to ban smoking in enclosed workplaces, employers can further promote health and safety by adopting broader smoke-free policies, such as extending bans to outdoor areas or limiting smoking and vaping to designated spaces.
Workplaces are encouraged to develop and implement policies and procedures to protect staff from the dangers of second-hand smoking or vaping and mitigate other fire-related hazards.
For more information about developing smoke-free policy and procedures at your workplace, contact Cancer Council SA’s Tackling Tobacco team at tacklingtobacco@cancersa.org.au.
Smoking in motor vehicles
Smoking and vaping are banned in motor vehicles whenever children under 16 years are present, even if the windows are down.
This applies whether the vehicle is stationary or moving, and to anyone in the vehicle who is smoking or vaping while a child is on board.
If you see someone smoking in a car with children, you can contact your local police station and provide details of the offence such as the car registration, car make and model, time and date of the offence and the location.
Declared smoke-free outdoor areas and events
Community support for smoke-free, safe, and healthy environments is very high. As a result, many South Australian public areas have become voluntarily smoke-free over the past decade, including areas used for outdoor events.
There are several areas in South Australia now smoke-free under legislation since being declared smoke-free outdoor areas. These include:
- Rundle Mall in Adelaide CBD
- The Parade in Norwood
- Henley Square in Henley Beach
- Moseley Square in Glenelg
- Bowden Town Square in Bowden.
There are also declared smoke-free South Australian events such as The Royal Adelaide Show and the annual Ceduna Oysterfest.
Applying to create a declared smoke-free outdoor area or event
Local governments and incorporated bodies (groups that run major events such as festivals, shows and music events) are strongly encouraged to create smoke-free environments to improve the health of their community and patrons.
A smoke-free environment will also send a positive health message to the community and create a cleaner and safer environment.
Local councils and other incorporated bodies can apply to have an outdoor area or event declared smoke-free through SA Health.
Outdoor areas that could be declared smoke free areas include town centres, ovals, high traffic outdoor shopping precincts and streets, high traffic tourist destinations, or other locations where the public gathers.
Events that could become smoke-free include music, craft, food and cultural festivals, events aimed at children and families, outdoor expos, field days, pageants, outdoor markets, sports carnivals or other events where the public gather for an activity.
Visit the SA Health website for an application guide and fact sheets for creating a declared smoke-free outdoor area or event.
Before applying to create a smoke-free outdoor area, contact Preventive Health SA.
Become a smoke-free recreation or sporting organisation
Many recreation and sporting organisations choose to become smoke-free due to the increased demand from players, club members, families, and community to be able to watch and play sport in a smoke-free environment. In response, SA Health has developed a policy guide to support recreation and sporting organisations to become smoke-free.
For more information and support to create a smoke-free venue visit the SA Health website.
Smoke and vape free signage
Signage helps to clearly identify non-smoking and vaping areas. SA Health has a range of signage options for retailers, workplaces, and organisations. This signage can be ordered online, sent to a professional printer or printed in-house. For more information and to order or download signage visit the SA Health Website.
Quit smoking and vaping
Quitting smoking or vaping is one of the most important things you can do to reduce your risk of cancer and improve your health in general — but everybody’s journey is different.
Vaping
Vapes (also known as e-cigarettes or electronic cigarettes) are harmful. Illicit vapes can contain over 200 chemicals including some that cause cancer. New research shows that vaping is likely to cause lung cancer and oral cancer.
