VietNamNet Bridge - If you teach or study at Ha Noi University of Public Health, satisfying your nicotine craving over the last four years has been extremely difficult.

Members of the 15-student group.

Four years ago, the university banned smoking on campus, both indoors and outdoors. If you’re caught, the penalty is a VND100,000 (US$6) fine.

Offenders are nabbed by a group of 15 students who handle campus inspections around-the-clock. Since the group was established, no one has been seen lighting up.

Pham Xuan Chinh, head of the team, said the school’s Communist Youth Union promoted the non-smoking environment and plans to create stiffer penalties in the future.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has awarded a certificate of merit to the university for instituting the ban.

The model has been used in several medical colleges in Da Nang and Khanh Hoa and Hai Duong provinces. Ha Noi Medical University and University of Transport will adopt the policy soon.

(Source: VNS)