BBC bans use of electronic cigarettes from all of its offices and studios across the country



BBC has enforced blanket ban on use of electronic cigarettes in its offices

Corporation said ban comes after advice from British Medical Association

Follows in footsteps of JCB and Standard Life which has also banned e-cigs



The BBC has banned the use of electronic cigarettes in all of its offices and studios around the country, it has emerged.

The blanket ban came into force this week after months of confusion at the Corporation, according to sources.

It means e-cigarette users now have to go outside to designated smoking areas to use their product - which are seen by some as a healthy alternative to tobacco cigarettes.



The BBC said Bell was a guest on the 5 live Daily programme and 'made some insensitive comments live on-air, which we apologised to listeners for'

Regional managers were previously free to either allow or outlaw the use of ‘vapers’ indoors.

A ban was brought in at BBC North's Salford Quays headquarters in Manchester, while e-smoking was tolerated at New Broadcasting House in London.

But now Corporation chiefs have confirmed the ban has spread across the BBC.

A BBC spokesperson said: 'In line with advice from the British Medical Association the BBC has introduced a ban on the use of e-cigarettes in BBC buildings.’

The BBC is following in the footsteps of a number of large UK employers, including insurer Standard Life.

The company banned its 5,500 employees from using e-cigarettes inside its buildings two years ago.

Machinery firm JCB has also outlawed ‘vaping’ in the workplace, while a number of local authorities including Newcastle and Stoke-on-Trent are looking at bans.

E-cigarettes are not covered by the legislation which brought in a blanket ban for tobacco smoking in public places and workplaces.

E-cigarettes, many of which contain nicotine, are seen by some as a healthy alternative to smoking

Their use has already been banned in public places in several U.S. cities including New York and Chicago, while France is looking at bringing in similar restrictions.

E-cigarettes, many of which contain nicotine, are seen by some as a healthy alternative to smoking.

But others claim that they are ‘renormalising’ smoking and actually encourage people, including teenagers, to take up tobacco.

A Public Heath England report concluded that electronic cigarettes offer ‘vast potential health benefits’ by providing a ‘safer source of nicotine’ for smokers.

It added: ‘But maximising those benefits while minimising harms and risks to society requires appropriate regulation, careful monitoring, and risk management.

‘However the opportunity to harness this potential into public health policy, complementing existing comprehensive tobacco control policies, should not be missed.’