Media release: October 6, 2003
Public
support in NSW for totally smokefree pubs and clubs has risen to a two-thirds
majority in the wake of legal actions and growing health evidence.
A
study just published in the Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public
Health* calls for immediate
legislation to ban smoking in all indoor drinking and gambling areas.
The
2001 survey of NSW community attitudes shows:
·
66.8% supported a total ban on smoking in pubs and clubs.
·
63.5% support from people who had visited licensed premises
in the past month.
·
Support for total bans increased significantly from 2000 to
2001.
·
88.7% agreed secondhand smoke poses a threat to patrons’
health.
·
83.1% said bar workers’ health should be a major
consideration.
·
46% of non-patrons listed cigarette smoke as one of the main
deterrents.
The
authors, from The Cancer Council NSW and the University of Newcastle, conclude
that “majority support exists for banning smoking in pubs and clubs” and
that “Legislation banning smoking in all indoor drinking and gaming areas
should be introduced immediately.”
They
suggest that public support may have increased in the wake of the 2001 court
decision in the case brought by non-smoking employee Marlene Sharp against the
Port Kembla RSL Club, where the court found that her throat cancer was caused by
years of working in a smoky bar.
Says
Cancer Council NSW CEO Dr Andrew Penman: “This
research confirms the national trend of snowballing community support for
smokefree licensed venues. It shows venue patrons also back getting the smoke
outdoors. And notably, it also predates recent research showing that separate
indoor ‘smokefree’ areas are ineffective. That should further increase
community support for total bans.”
Adds
Anne Jones, spokesperson for the SmokeFree ’03 coalition of health and trade
union groups: ”It’s time to can
NSW’s ineffective ‘Share the Air’ agreement, as smoke won’t stop a metre
from the bar.
“Continuing
to allow serious health risks from secondhand smoke undermines occupational
health laws, risks legal actions and discriminates against people with heart,
asthma and other disabilities.
“We
urge all governments to act now to protect the health and legal rights of bar
workers by ending exemptions based on the flawed arguments of tobacco interest
groups,” says Anne Jones.
* Tzelepis F et al, “Community attitudes towards environmental tobacco smoke in licensed premises: follow-up study after the Sharp case”(2003) in ANZJPH 27(5):539-542
Comment:
Dr Andrew Penman, The Cancer Council NSW
via Sue White ph. 0419-463-161
Anne
Jones, ASH Australia
ph. 0417-227-879
Stafford
Sanders, SF’03 media
ph. (02) 9817-5424
SmokeFree '03 coalition:
Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Workers' Union; Musicians' Union of
Australia;
Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance; Australian Council of Trade
Unions;
Action on Smoking and Health Australia; The Cancer Council Australia;
National Heart Foundation of Australia; Australian Council on Smoking and Health;
Non-Smokers' Movement of Australia