COUNCIL LOOKS TO STUB OUT OUTDOOR SMOKING

Council looks to stub out outdoor smoking

Jason Dowling
September 13, 2010 - 3:00AM

SMOKING may soon be banned outdoors at cafes and football and other sports events in parts of Melbourne.

Monash City Council will vote tomorrow on a motion to begin community consultation on new outdoor smoking bans. Monash was the first in Victoria to ban smoking in playgrounds.

Cr Micaela Drieberg said although no specific outdoor areas had been nominated in a council report, they could involve alfresco dining, sporting and recreational clubs and shopping strips.

She nominated Eaton Mall in Oakleigh as one area that could come under attention.

''I think people want to be able to enjoy a meal or a coffee or just sitting outside with friends and family, especially as the weather is getting warmer, and not have to be exposed to second-hand smoke,'' Cr Drieberg said.

''They have just as much right to fresh air as a smoker has the right to smoke in certain places,'' she said.

Cr Drieberg said the community was interested in tighter smoking rules.

''It's about giving everyone the opportunity for fresh air, it's about giving everyone the opportunity to live in a place that is a healthy community and it is about de-normalising smoking and decreasing the amount of litter from cigarette butts.''

Quit Victoria executive director Fiona Sharkie said many councils in New South Wales had already moved to limit smoking in outdoor areas.

''There is some increasing evidence to show that in outdoor eating areas that have canopies or awnings over the top, people who eat in those areas or sit in those areas are still at risk of second-hand smoke,'' Ms Sharkie said.

''We want to see more smoke-free legislation and more smoke-free areas in [places] like sporting areas for the purposes of de-normalising smoking, particularly to children.''

''The majority of people don't smoke and the majority of people would prefer to have these areas smoke free and even a large proportion of smokers agree on smoke-free legislation.''

She said about 17 per cent of adults in Victoria were daily or weekly smokers.

Heart Foundation chief executive Kathy Bell said the time had come to further restrict where people could smoke.

''Smoking is the leading cause of avoidable chronic illness and hospitalisation, not only from lung cancer, but also heart disease, so we really want to help save lives and help save suffering,'' she said.

''No parent wants their child to smoke and if kids see people smoking all the time it makes them think smoking is something that is normal and OK,'' she said.

A spokeswoman for cigarette company Philip Morris said: ''We do not believe that banning smoking in outdoor public places is the right approach.

''We believe smoking should be allowed in outdoor public spaces, except areas intended primarily for children.

''In establishments such as restaurants and cafes, proprietors should be free to decide whether to permit, restrict, or prohibit smoking,'' she said.

This story was found at: http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/council-looks-to-stub-out-outdoor-smoking-20100912-15709.html