Fla. university bans all tobacco use

MIAMI, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- A Florida university says it has instituted a campus-wide ban on smoking, including recreational areas, dorms, and even outdoors and in cars.

Florida International University is the second school in the state to announce a tobacco ban after the University of Florida, which went smoke-free in July, The Miami Herald reported Friday.

Everyone who drives into or sets foot on campus, whether faculty, staff, students or visitors, must comply, the university said.

For the first six months of the initiative, violators will be reminded of the regulation and asked to dispose of their cigarette or tobacco product.

Violations after six months will bring a formal conduct review to determine a punishment, university officials said.

FIU is now one of more than 400 U.S. colleges and universities that have banned all tobacco use, the American Non-smokers' Rights Foundation said.

FIU University Health Services said it will provide tobacco dependence groups, reduced-cost nicotine replacement therapies such as patches or nicotine gum, and discounted acupuncture sessions.