B.C.’s most well-known ski resort is taking drastic action to stamp out smoking in public.
Beginning May 31, Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort will ban smoking on all of its property including chairlifts, gondolas, ski runs, hiking trails, parking lots, bike trails and all bars, restaurants and patios.
“We have made the decision to introduce a smoke-free policy at Whistler Blackcomb to preserve the pristine alpine environment our guests come here for,” the resort’s president and CEO Dave Brownlie said in a statement.
The policy also means resort staff will have to eventually butt out at work.
Staff at rental shops and restaurants as well as ski instructors will be allowed to smoke in “designated smoking areas” for one year as they adjust to the new rules. The resort says it will provide resources to those who choose to quit smoking.
A spokesman for Vancouver Coastal Health lauded the move, saying it would create a healthy role model for youth.
“By taking this important step, Whistler Blackcomb is demonstrating it is a strong ambassador for health,” said medical health officer Dr. Paul Martiquet. “We know many young people ski and snowboard, and youth who haven’t started using tobacco by the time they are 26 years old will most likely never start.”
Cigarette smokers aren’t the only ones in the crosshairs of the new policy. Marijuana smokers will also be asked to butt out on the slopes.
Brownlie said the policy will apply to e-cigarettes.
The resort said the smoke-free rule will also help reduce the risk of forest fires on Whistler and Blackcomb mountains.
The world-renowned mountains comprise more than 8,000 acres of terrain and 200 marked runs.
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