Smoking ban in outdoor areas backed by businesses

AN outdoor smoking ban at cafes and beer gardens has been backed by smokers and businesses as fines between $152 and $758 are announced.

New smoking bans to be enforced in Victoria banning smoking in outdoor eating areas, beer gardens etc. . Kashmir Stevens has a coffee and smoke at cafe in Lygon St, Carlton. Picture: Sarah Matray

AN outdoor smoking ban at cafes and beer gardens has been backed by smokers and businesses.

The State Government has announced smokers will face on-the-spot fines between $152 and $758 if caught breaching the law.

It is hoped the new ban will protect the community from second-hand smoke, denormalise smoking for young people, and help support smokers quit for good.

Under the plan, Victorian eateries would be smoke-free from August 1, 2017, and would apply to almost 22,000 outdoor venues throughout the state where food is served including restaurants, cafes, takeaway shops and licensed premises.

Lygon St restaurants said they were largely in favour of the ban, however feared it might initially harm business.

Copperwood restaurant manager Sudha Gurung said many of her customers smoked.

“We have a lot of smokers that sit outside so it’ll definitely be bad for business if they can’t eat and smoke at the same time,” she said. “But in general I think it’s a good idea.”

James DiMattina, of DiMattina’s Restaurant and Bar, said while no doubt some of his customers would be disappointed with the ban, it might entice more people to eat outside.

“Everything has its ups and downs, so while some people won’t like it, others definitely will and will want to sit outside if nobody is smoking there,” he said.

“It might initially be bad business, but I think as soon as people get used to the idea it’ll all be fine.”

Quit Victoria acting director Kylie Lindorff said the ban would help sever the connection between smoking and socialising.

“There’s a perceived image that cigarettes and having a wine or a coffee go together which normalises smoking, but we want to show that’s not the case,” Lindorff said.

“The ban will help break the social connection between smoking and having a good time”

Smoker Kashmir Stevens said she agreed with the ban.

“It’s a little disappointing for smokers, sure, but for everyone else it means there’s less of a chance of getting second-hand smoke,” he said.

Cancer Council Victoria research shows 13 per cent of Victorians smoke, however 73 per cent of Victorians support the ban.

Nearly 4000 people die in Victoria each year due to smoking-related problems, costing the state nearly $2.4 billion in healthcare and lost productivity.

Health Minister Jill Hennessy said the State Government wood work with businesses to ensure the ban was implemented effectively and businesses had enough time to implement the changes.

Earlier this year, the Government brought forward bans on smoking within four metres of the entrances to public hospitals and community health services, schools, childcare centres, kindergartens and preschools, and many government buildings including Parliament, courts and police stations.

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