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Smoking ban in outdoor areas the ‘next logical step’, says Melbourne lord mayor

Melbourne city council set to discuss a ban for outdoor dining areas, an initiative that would bring Victoria into line with other states

Greens MP Colleen Hartland described Wooldridge’s comments as “hypocritical,” given the Coalition voted against a private members’ bill introduced by Hartland in 2012 to ban smoking in outdoor areas. The bill did not get the numbers to pass through the house at the time.

Hennessy said the almost two-year period between announcing the ban and implementing it was necessary so that businesses would have enough time to prepare for the changes.

“We want to work with businesses and consult with them to ensure this important reform is introduced and implemented effectively,” she said. “We don’t want to jeopardise jobs.”

However, it will put Victoria behind all other states. New South Wales last month implemented a smoking ban for all commercial outdoor dining areas, including hotels, clubs, restaurants and cafes. Queensland banned smoking in outdoor dining areas in 2006, and the ACT in 2010.

Earlier this year, the Victorian government brought forward bans on smoking within 4m of the entrances to public hospitals and community health services, schools, childcare centres, kindergartens and preschools, and government buildings.

Outdoor areas in Victorian restaurants to be a smoke-free zone from mid-2017

http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2015/aug/23/outdoor-areas-in-victorian-restaurants-to-be-a-smoke-free-zone-from-mid-2017

Anti-smoking groups express concern over two-year delay but health minister says businesses need time to make changes before tobacco ban comes into place

Melissa Davey

Recent statistics by Victorian Cancer Council estimates about 4,000 lives are lost in each state each year due to smoking

Smoking will be banned in the outdoor dining areas of all restaurants, cafes, take-away shops and licensed premises in Victoria, the state’s health minister, Jill Hennessy, announced on Sunday.

But the ban won’t take effect until August 2017, with the government set to consult with health and industry groups over the coming months to flesh out the detail of the reforms.

 

New smoking laws in outdoor dining areas to turn customers into snitches

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/north-shore/new-smoking-laws-in-outdoor-dining-areas-to-turn-customers-into-snitches/story-fngr8h9d-1227410563433?nk=4a17044c8404afede5aa34fab4c90734-1435020248

Customers will be able to dob in a cafe or restaurant that allows smoking in outdoor areas. Source: News Corp Australia

Patrons will be able to dob in pubs or restaurants who don’t crack down on people smoking in outdoor dining areas.

Under the new laws that come into force on July 6 smoking will be banned in all seated outdoor dining areas while food is being served.

The legislation will apply to all ignited smoking products, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes and ­waterpipes.

Authorised inspectors from the Northern Sydney Local Health District and the health department will conduct random inspections of premises and also in ­response to complaints.

From July 6 smoking will be banned in outdoor dining areas in NSW Photo: Adam Yip Source: News Corp Australia

The public will also be able to report if venues aren’t complying with the new laws online or by calling a hotline. Inspectors will be able to issue on the spot fines of $300 for individuals, and penalties of up to $5500 for occupiers who ­ignore the ban.

“It is the responsibility of establishments to ensure, to the best of their ability, that patrons comply,” a Northern Sydney Local Health District spokeswoman said.

However, establishments will be notified if inspectors are going to be checking their premises and there may be a grace period.

“Patrons and venues are expected to comply with the legislation from July 6,” the spokeswoman said.

“However, NSW Health will take a fair and even handed approach to enforcement of the new smoking bans … with the aim of promoting good public health outcomes.”

Northern Sydney Local Health District’s environmental health manager Geoffrey Prendergast said the new laws were an extension of existing bans on smoking at public transport stops, children’s playgrounds and sporting fields.

“NSW Health is working closely with local businesses to help them get ready for smoke-free outdoor dining,” Mr Prendergast said.

Under the laws smoking will also be banned within four metres of a seated dining area on licensed premises, restaurant or cafe, and within 10 metres of a food fair stall.

Customers can dob in a venue at health.nsw.gov.au/smokefree or by calling the Tobacco Information Line on 1800 357 412.

Smoking on restaurant patios now illegal in SF

Last updated: November 4, 2010

Source: The San Francisco Chronicle

Smokers in San Francisco can no longer light up in a restaurant’s outdoor seating area.

The law—approved by the city’s Board of Supervisors in March—went into effect this week.

Restaurants must not post signs advising customers they can only smoke at the curb or in a spot that is at least 15 feet from exits, entrances, windows and vents.

Failure to comply could cost restaurants a $500 fine.

Golden Gate Restaurant Association director Kevin Westlye tells the San Francisco Chronicle the group supported the legislation once a requirement that restaurant owners police people smoking in front of their establishments was removed.

Westlye says restaurant owners want to protect their employees and customers from second hand smoke.

China to ban smoking in indoor public places in 2011

china-tobaccoLast updated:  May 10, 2010

Source: Golbal Times

China to ban smoking in indoor public places in 2011 Source: Global Times [16:36 May 10 2010] Comments China is set to implement a ban on smoking in all indoor public places including workplaces and public transport vehicles from January 2011.

Yang Qing, Director General of the Department of Maternal and Child Health and Community Health at China’s Ministry of Health (MOH) says that the ban is being carried out according to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

The MOH will ban smoking in its offices this month.

One year ago, the ministry said that all its offices and medical facilities would be smoke-free by 2011.

Clear the Air says: Tommy Cheung

So what does Legco member Tommy Cheung have to say ? after all he predicted doom and gloom for the catering industry after the smoking ban in workplaces came into being.

Has he printed a retraction to say he was wrong – by about HK$ 18 billion only whilst meanwhile demanding an hourly minimum wage of HK$ 20 ?

Can we trust what the Liberal Party or its non elected Functional Constituency members say or vested interests tell them what to say ?

You decide.

Total Restaurant Receipts

Year

Quarter

Value

Volume

HK$Mn

Index (Average of quarterly indices from Oct 2004 to Sep 2005 = 100)

Year-on-year % change

Index (Average of quarterly indices from Oct 2004 to Sep 2005 = 100)

Year-on-year % change

2004

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

N.A.

2005

56,507.2

101.8

N.A.

101.5

N.A.

2006 no smoking ban

61,907.1

111.5

+9.6

109.8

+8.2

2007 Jan -partial smoking ban commences

70,202.0

126.4

+13.4

121.3

+10.6

2008

79,390.9

143.0

+13.1

129.6

+6.8

2009 – July full smoking ban in place

79,879.5

143.8

+0.6

128.4

-0.9

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The restaurants sector’s total receipts was $20.8 billion in value in the first quarter, up 4.8% on the same period last year, the Census & Statistics Department says. Restaurants’ total purchases increased 4.2% in value, to $7.2 billion.

After discounting the effect of price changes, total restaurant receipts rose 3.9% in volume.

Analysed by type of restaurant, Chinese restaurants’ total receipts rose 6.3% in value, or 5.3% in volume. Fast food shops‘ total receipts grew 5.3% in value or 4.6% in volume, while bars’ total receipts of bars rose 5% in value or 4.9% in volume.

Non-Chinese restaurants’ total receipts rose 2.4% in value or 1.9% in volume, while the figure for miscellaneous eating and drinking places grew 2% in value or 1.1% in volume.

On a seasonally adjusted quarter-to-quarter comparison, the volume of total restaurant receipts increased 1.2%.

Letters to the Editor: Officials must crack down on smokers

police-crackdown-415x275Last updated: March 21, 2010

Source: South China Morning Post

It is always a pleasure to visit Hong Kong and I felt things would be even better thanks to the smoking ban in pubs and public open spaces. However, I see the law being flouted and it is getting worse. In November there were some incidents, in January a few more, and this month I saw people smoking in so many establishments.

The government seems to be willing to let Hong Kong return to the bad old days. What a shame it will not enforce the law.

There are now several establishments I will not go to because the smoking problem is worse than ever, so at least I’m saving money.

I hope for Hong Kong’s sake the government wakes up before it is too late and the bad old days are back forever.

John Preston, Hawksburn, Victoria, Australia

Bars ignoring smoking ban taking our business, other pubs complain

smoking in bar

Patrons of bars in Tsim Sha Tsui can ignore the smoking ban as long as no one complains to the Tobacco Control Office - a loophole some bar owners say costs them business.

Updated: February 28, 2010

Source: South China Morning Post

Popular bars on Hong Kong Island are sick of abiding by the smoking ban while competitors in other parts of the city ignore it, and are demanding the government step in.

The owners claim that because they follow the law they are losing customers – while most others ignore the ban and are escaping with their profits intact.

Smoking legislation in Hong Kong, unlike jurisdictions elsewhere in the world, punishes smokers, not bars, for breaches. Rather than bar-owners facing losing their licences for failing to stop patrons from smoking, it is the individual smoker who faces prosecution. This means hundreds of bars are allowing smoking to continue as normal.

(more…)

Big Tobacco still on the march, WHO warns

Big TobaccoFirst published: February 26, 2010

Source: Reuters

GENEVA (Reuters) – Governments must do more to protect workers in bars, restaurants and the entertainment sector from harmful smoke, and curb tobacco advertising and sponsorship, the World Health Organization said on Friday.

Developing countries are the new frontier for tobacco companies, which often target women and girls, and smoking rates remain high among poor people in affluent countries, it said.

Tobacco kills more than 5 million people a year from cardiovascular disease, cancers, diabetes and other chronic illnesses, including about 600,000 from second-hand smoke, according to the United Nations agency.

“Most alarming of all, tobacco use is actually increasing in many developing countries. If Big Tobacco is in retreat in some parts of the world, it is on the march in others,” Dr. Margaret Chan, WHO director-general, told a meeting to review implementation of a landmark tobacco treaty five years after it came into force.

(more…)

Smoking ban outside restaurants

ABC news

16th Feb, 2010

Smoking outside of restaurants and cafes in a northern Tasmanian city will be banned from next year.

The Launceston Council has voted to ban smoking in on-street dining areas.

Launceston Mayor Albert van Zetten says the ban will be effective from January the first next year.

“So that’s a fair way off, we’re giving people the time to work out what it means for the businesses and we need to be aware that with smoking there’s only around about 20 per cent of people smoke,” he said.

“80 per cent have said in a survey they support the stand that council is taking.”