NEW state-wide smoking bans took effect yesterday, with Tamworth eateries stepping up to butt out cigarettes from dining areas.
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Smoking is now banned in NSW commercial outdoor dining areas and within four metres of pedestrian access to cafes, licensed premises and restaurants.
The law change comes with hefty new fines – NSW Health inspectors can slap individual offenders with a $300 on-the-spot fine, and business owners who ignore the ban can be faced with penalties of up to $5500.
NSW Health Minister Jillian Skinner said the moves were to protect outdoor diners and staff from the “harmful effects of second hand smoke”.
The Pub Group Tamworth manager Craig Power said the Longyard Hotel had catered for the change with separate dedicated areas for smoking and dining.
“For us, it’s the way that the world is moving forward with smoking,” he said.
“There are some people that want to dine and have a smoke ... but the culture today is that it’s not acceptable to smoke around people that are eating.”
“There’s been a progression over a number of years ... there’s always going to be people that question change, but at the end of the day, it’s the law – they can be smoking or they can be dining.”
The Albert Hotel owner Nick Weir said while logistically it might be a difficult and costly hassle for some venues to alter floor plans and accommodate the changes, the public had been well-informed.
“I’ve never been a smoker ... so I think it should be banned outright,” Mr Weir said.
Tamworth regional councillor Helen Tickle, who is behind a push to extend bans in the CBD, welcomed the new state legislation.
“Early indications of our public consultation show overwhelmingly the public supports further bans on smoking in outdoor areas, such as parks and reserves,” Cr Tickle said.
She said the results from the surveys, which attracted 1200 responses, will be collated in a report for council in August, with a draft policy to follow.
Council’s potential extended bans would be implemented in September.