Aguascalientes, Ags., September 8, 2023.— Starting in January 2020, Panamericana began promoting the “100% Smoke-Free Campus”, which was implemented across all its campuses and prohibits the use of cigarettes, tobacco products, or similar items, including “vapes” or e-cigarettes.
UP 100% Smoke-Free
This initiative is part of the " Acciones con ECO" campaign, which was launched to raise awareness among the university community about the importance of protecting the ecosystem through our actions.
This is a significant step in the development of every member of the Panamericana, as raising awareness that our actions impact our environment helps transform a population so that it can minimize the problems that we humans have created.
After it was revealed that cigarette smoke generates high levels of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and that cigarette smokers produce approximately 225,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide each year, the campaign “100% Smoke-Free Campus”was launched.
Furthermore, as a smoke-free institution, the Panamericana strictly adheres to the regulations and penalties set forth in the General Law on Tobacco Control, the Regulations of the General Law on Tobacco Control, and the Law on the Protection of the Health of Nonsmokers in Mexico City.
It is worth noting that this initiative not only protects nonsmokers but also gives smokers the opportunity to reduce their usual consumption by forcing them to refrain from smoking so frequently—a measure that encourages them to quit gradually.
Elimination of Smoking Areas
Previously, there were designated smoking areas; however, the World Health Organization (WHO) notes that ventilation does not reduce exposure to tobacco smoke, since being near someone who is smoking in an open area exposes you to its effects in much the same way as being in an enclosed space. That is why these smoking areas were eliminated on campus.
“These days, anyone who decides to smoke has to leave the university campus. There are security guards who help us ensure that students—as well as university staff and people from outside the university—are not vaping, smoking, etc.,” says José Manuel Lara Silva, General Manager of Operations at the Panamericana University’s Aguascalientes campus.
In addition, various strategies were launched to promote this initiative, such as posters, illustrations, and signs throughout the university encouraging the university community to join this campaign.
Various universities across the country, such as the Universidad Veracruzana and the Universidad del Valle de México, have joined the initiative and declared themselves 100% smoke-free campuses, as this measure helps prevent people—especially young people—from taking up smoking.
These actions help us continue to be a socially responsible and healthy campus for all of us who are part of the Panamericana family.
We invite you to continue living in a 100% smoke-free environment!
