New smoking bans introduced in New South Wales

[Highway10 1,072]

New smoking laws will come into effect in New South Wales today.

Under the rules, smoking will be banned in outdoor dining areas at pubs, clubs and cafes.

It will be illegal to light up within four metres of an alfresco area where food is served.

Those caught in the act will be hit with a $300 fine - while businesses could be penalised $5,500 if they ignore the ban.

The Cancer Council NSW welcomed the changes which were announced in August 2012.

'We are delighted that second-hand smoke will no longer be a worry for patrons, staff and the NSW community as smoking will officially be off the menu at all outdoor dining outlets from today,' Scott Walsberger, Tobacco Control Manager for the Cancer Council NSW said.

'We know that there is no real safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke, so we commend the NSW Government in allowing the community and the hospitality industry time to prepare for this ban, which will help reduce the community's exposure to second-hand smoke.'

http://www.skynews.com.au/news/local/sydney/2015/07/06/new-smoking-bans-introduced-in-nsw.html

[HausAlly 799]

good for them, i absolutely hate the smell of smoke, i was so glad when Queensland bumped up our smoking laws, you have to to be 5 metres outside the boundary if you wanna smoke near a hospital or school 

[JohnDoe 19]

New smoking laws will come into effect in New South Wales today.

Under the rules, smoking will be banned in outdoor dining areas at pubs, clubs and cafes.

It will be illegal to light up within four metres of an alfresco area where food is served.

Those caught in the act will be hit with a $300 fine - while businesses could be penalised $5,500 if they ignore the ban.

The Cancer Council NSW welcomed the changes which were announced in August 2012.

'We are delighted that second-hand smoke will no longer be a worry for patrons, staff and the NSW community as smoking will officially be off the menu at all outdoor dining outlets from today,' Scott Walsberger, Tobacco Control Manager for the Cancer Council NSW said.

'We know that there is no real safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke, so we commend the NSW Government in allowing the community and the hospitality industry time to prepare for this ban, which will help reduce the community's exposure to second-hand smoke.'

http://www.skynews.com.au/news/local/sydney/2015/07/06/new-smoking-bans-introduced-in-nsw.html

Fanatics.

The point of the science is that the risk is mostly proportional to the amount of smoke you inhale.  Half as much smoke = about half the risk.  So at some point the risk becomes so tiny it is really nothing and doesn't justify any more bans, even though there still is a hyper-microscopic risk remaining.

No I'm not saying that a non-smoker working 60 hours a week in a room filled with the smoke from a total of 100 cigs/hour is not in serious danger of cancer.  Allowing that would be the other extreme.

But anti-smoking campaigners in "western" societies have become so extreme, they simply become a threat to the general liberties of the population as such.  Those already addicted to nicotine first, those not actively persecuting smokers (like waiters not attacking smokers standing within 4m of a table) next, and the rest of us later (the no lower limit argument can be applied to punish anyone owning anything that has ever been in the vicinity of smoke, as owning it might endanger people getting so close they can try to sniff it).

[Goosey 3,017]

Silly, restaurants should be allowed to choose if they are smoking establishments or not. If people want a place to smoke, give them a place to smoke. Don't like it? Don't go there.

[RAMROD 117,124]

LOL what is a pub without cigarettes??!!

 

It is not like anyone taking a baby or pregnant women there either.

 

Even in posh pubs people smoke albeit a swanky cigar than cigarettes 

Enjoy slower business, I guess.

 

[Caesium 6,022]

LOL what is a pub without cigarettes??!!

 

It is not like anyone taking a baby or pregnant women there either.

 

Even in posh pubs people smoke albeit a swanky cigar than cigarettes 

Enjoy slower business, I guess.

 

It's been happening in the UK for like 10 years. You can still smoke in the beer garden. And other people are just are important as pregnant women and babies and are still at risk from second hand smoke and its effects. Business definitely hasn't slowed.

[RAMROD 117,124]

It's been happening in the UK for like 10 years. You can still smoke in the beer garden. And other people are just are important as pregnant women and babies and are still at risk from second hand smoke and its effects. Business definitely hasn't slowed.

That is very good. 

Just don't stop smokersaltofether from smoking, it is personal choice to take, just give designated space for them to do what they do, so won't harm non smokers.

[Didymus 34,380]

Those are some tough punishments

"We know that there is no real safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke"

This is so true though. That's why I support these bans as well.

[Highway10 1,072]

Those are some tough punishments

"We know that there is no real safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke"

This is so true though. That's why I support these bans as well.

I just hate seeing parents smoke around there children   i'm glad they approved of this ban to be honest but it is gonna be hard for some people 

[Nicole 1,809]

I'm half-half with these laws. It sounds good but I still believe that restaurants/cafes etc should be able to choose whether they allow smoking outdoors. 

Also, sometimes it seems that the government is so focused on protecting non-smokers that they disregard the need to create a supportive environment for people who do smoke including designated smoking areas. As a non-smoker I've got positive feelings about it personally, but isolating smokers from public places is a bit restrictive 

[ChasingGhosts 726]

LOL what is a pub without cigarettes??!!

 

It is not like anyone taking a baby or pregnant women there either.

 

Even in posh pubs people smoke albeit a swanky cigar than cigarettes 

Enjoy slower business, I guess.

 

It's illegal to smoke in a pub anyway. 

[Luc 4,776]

Good I guess  benefits the general health.

To anyone who dislikes this, you're addicted and that's bad. Try to keep your smoking to a less unhealthy level like a pack a week and eventually try to stop if you want to.