See our  RESOURCES  for Local Government - including easy links to information kits for NSW and Victorian councils, and North Sydney residents' video

LATEST NEWS  on smokefree local areas in Australia
INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS 
LATEST RESEARCH  on health and economic benefits and attitudes  
WHAT'S BEEN DONE in Australia
RESOURCES for local government

Not only state and territory but local government can play a big part in making communities safer, healthier and cleaner - by making crowded outdoor local areas smokefree. These can include:

Benefits  of making crowded outdoor areas smokefree     
See detailed arguments in 48 NGOs' briefing paper to Councils and businesses (NSW)  
on  100% smokefree alfresco dining

• Strong public health arguments for protecting against exposure to toxic, carcinogenic secondhand smoke (SHS) by making crowded outdoor or partly-enclosed areas smokefree - especially alfresco dining or transport shelters where there's extended or repeated exposure. See  health evidence on outdoor areas   ... and latest  health research on secondhand smoke 

• Compelling Occupational Health and Safety argument for protecting employees in their workplaces from repeated exposure to a known poisonous, carcinogenic contaminant.  See Smokefree workplaces: what needs fixing 

• Australia is committed under international treaty: Article 8 of the  WHO's Framework Convention on Tobacco Control  obliges ALL levels of government to protect ALL people from SHS. 

• Especially vulnerable to SHS harm are children - they have no realistic choice but to be with parents/carers and should be protected. See  health evidence  and  smokefree effectiveness 

• With the health evidence comes a disability discrimination argument: we should not create unhealthy barriers against categories of people (e.g. heart/respiratory sufferers) using or working in public places.

• The case for making some other areas smokefree can include environmental benefit - for example, butt litter on beaches, and litter or fire risks in parks. See below, Reducing Butt Litter

• In still other cases, there are safety or public amenity issues. 

• In child-accessible places (e.g. playgrounds, safe swimming areas), there is a child behaviour modelling argument that we should not  "normalise" smoking in view of children - not encourage them to see smoking as a normal or usual activity. 

• Community opinion measured in many surveys strongly supports crowded public places, and all workplaces, being smokefree.  See  evidence 

• Trade benefit is likely to flow from going smokefree, since many more people are attracted to smokefree venues that deterred. Trade impact from going smokefree is shown by international and Australian research to be neutral to positive.  See  evidence 

So who's against it?

One guess. The only organised opposition to smokefree outdoor areas (particularly food/drink service areas) has come from tobacco companies and allied bodies - like the Australian Hotels Association (AHA), retail interests, and Butt Free Australia / Butt Littering Trust. See below, Reducing Butt Litter   These tobacco-related interests have made unfounded and misleading claims that smokefree policies will "harm business" and have "unforeseen consequences". In fact all independent evidence shows going smokefree has neutral-positive impact on dining trade.

Freedom and liberty issues
Many argue that adults in full knowledge of consequences should be free to take risks. But this does not extend to harming others, including children and employees in their workplaces. People have a right to smoke, but not near others. "Your right to swing your fist ends at the tip of my nose." NSW Council for Civil Liberties policy (2008) says:

It is a person's right to use any legal substance, but the context of use should be dependent on the comfort of others. Smoking should only be allowed where there is no possibility of passive smoking causing harm or discomfort to others. The onus should be on the smoker to prove no discomfort or irritation to non-smokers. 

The fact that smoking is “a legal activity” should not prevent it being quite properly restricted to certain areas for health, safety or public amenity reasons – like many other legal activities including driving, operating dangerous machinery, urinating or playing loud music.

Reducing butt litter - what works and what doesn't

ASH encourages councils to be aware of the independent research on what measures actually reduce litter - and to beware misleading claims and ineffective strategies. 

The tobacco industry paints itself as "socially responsible" by supporting "soft" strategies to reduce butt litter - without reducing smoking. British American Tobacco Australia (BATA) founded and funded Butt Free Australia (BFA, formerly "Butt Littering Trust") - which seeks partnerships with state and local government to distribute "butt bins" and educate smokers to "butt it then bin it". BFA claims its campaigns have reduced butt litter; but despite several requests hasn't provided meaningful comparisons with other strategies, with areas where it doesn't operate, or with pre-existing trends - or discussed how other factors (e.g. smokefree places laws or falling smoking rates) might have contributed. 

Independent evidence suggests BFA-type strategies are not effective. NSW Dept of Environment  Extended Producer Responsibility report 2005-2006    p. 21: “impact of current activities funded by cigarette manufacturers has not delivered a reduction in butt littering.”   

Disposal/education may help as part of a broader strategy including smokefree places; but tobacco companies/fronts have instead advanced them as stand-alone alternatives, lobbying councils against extending smokefree areas. BAT, its front group BLT and BAT-sponsored Australian Hotels Association have all lobbied councils against smokefree reforms.

BFA announced on November 23, 2011 that since BAT would no longer fund it, it would be wound up. BFA website announcement 23/11/11 

The industry front group will hand its assets over to KESAB (formerly "Keep Australia Beautiful"), which has a history of accepting money from the tobacco industry.

Councils beware!  See  LATEST NEWS  below, BATA letter 2008 to Wagga councillors and ASH response  and 2006 article on  BAT's Butt Littering Trust   

Poisons "alfresco"....

 

Alfresco  smoking in North Sydney, Oct 2010:  smoker puffs next to window, risking health of staff and patrons, including children.  North Sydney Council in 2011 made all such areas smokefree.

All public dining areas should be smokefree by law - as  in Qld, ACT, NT, (soon) Tas, WA

LATEST NEWS

Smokefree Melbourne beaches reduce butt litter
January 2012: Three Melbourne beaches made smokefree by council policies have reduced butt litter by 15-28%.  Forbes Advocate 7/1/12

Parramatta puts the fresco back in alfresco 
December 2011: Parramatta City Council has voted to make its footpath alfresco dining areas smokefree by May 2012 - along with transport shelters. Parramatta, Sydney's demographic hub with many outdoor dining areas, becomes the 32nd NSW council to adopt the policy (and Griffith has since become the 33rd).  SmokeFree Australia release 13/12/11   Parramatta Advertiser 21/12/11   

"The clean 13" suburbs: where to dine safely smokefree in Sydney this summer:
48 NGOs' media release 15/11/11 

BAT to wind up anti-litter front group
November 2011: British American Tobacco's anti-litter front group, Butt Free Australia (formerly Butt Littering Trust) has announced  that since BAT would no longer fund it, it would be wound up. The group will hand its assets over to KESAB (formerly "Keep Australia Beautiful"), which has accepted tobacco industry funds. BFA website announcement 23/11/11 

North Sydney acts, community backs smokefree moves
August 2011: North Sydney has become the 91st NSW council to ban smoking in crowded outdoor areas (from Oct 1), and the 30th to make alfresco dining licences smokefree-conditional. The vote followed overwhelming community support. ASH and partners media release 29/8/11  

Smoke-free bus shelter, North Sydney, Oct 2011 (pic: NSMA)

Slow Sydney becoming "cigarette city"
August 2011: Health groups have urged Sydney City Council to catch up with other cities and surrounding councils in protecting people from toxic secondhand smoke - by making alfresco dining and other crowded public places smokefree.  Sydney Central magazine 23/8/11

Melbourne's Bourke St mall could go smokefree
August 2011: Melbourne's busy Bourke Street shopping mall could be made 100% smokefree - along with playgrounds, some parks and gardens, under policy being considered by the City Council.  Herald Sun 14/8/11 

Adelaide set to make central mall smokefree
August 2011: Adelaide City Council is considering making the city's central Rundle Mall retail strip smokefree within six months. The council has already offered discount licence fees to eating venues offering smokefree dining.Adelaide Now report 6/8/11

NSW councils take smokefree lead: 2011 survey of policies
July 2011: Latest annual survey of NSW local councils' smokefree policies shows almost 60% of  councils have adopted smokefree outdoor areas policies - more than trebling in the last four years. 30 councils have adopted 100% smokefree public outdoor dining policies.  Heart Foundation release 27/7/11  and  full report 

North Sydney residents make smokefree case in YouTube video
July 2011: With smokefree areas including alfrescoes, playgrounds and transport shelters in a public consultation process, North Sydney residents have made a nine-minute video enthusiastically spelling out the positives.  Smoke-free North Sydney YouTube vid 

Brisbane central mall smokefree from September
July 2011: Brisbane's central Queen Street Mall will be 100% smokefree from September 1. Already smokefree by state law are outdoor eating areas, shopping centres, patrolled beaches, playgrounds, sports stadiums. Health groups seek addition of transport waiting areas. Brisbane Courier Mail 23/7/11

Tasmanian councils support statewide smokefree alfresco law
July 2011: Tasmanian councils strongly back state government pledge for outdoor public dining areas 100% smokefree from 2012.  Hobart Mercury 21/7/11    (NSW, SA and Victoria will then be only states lacking this policy.) 

Marrickville smokefree policy takes effect
July 2011: New smokefree outdoor areas policy has taken effect in inner-Sydney Marrickville - including alfresco dining licences; council events and sportsgrounds; public pools; in or near children's playgrounds, bus shelters and council buildings. The council has put info online including key questions.  Marrickville smokefree policy and FAQs

Baw Baw first Victorian council to make all public alfrescoes smokefree
2011: Baw Baw Shire Council in West Gippsland, Victoria has become the first Victorian council to adopt a 100% smokefree policy covering all outdoor dining areas on public land. Council also voted (on June 22) to prohibit smoking in playgrounds, some pedestrian areas and sporting fields.   Melbourne Age report 23/6/11

Young adopts smokefree policies
2011: Young in southwestern NSW has adopted smokefree policies - including playgrounds and alfresco dining. More than half of all NSW councils now have smokefree policies - including 27 with 100% smokefree dining. Young Witness report 22/4/11

NSW considers statewide smokefree dining
2011:  The NSW government is considering public submissions (now closed) on proposed reforms - including smokefree dining along similar lines to Queensland, ACT and NT.  Discussion paper and  ASH submission 

Resource kit encourages Victorian councils to go smokefree
2011: Smoke-free Policies in Outdoor Areas: A resource kit for Victorian local governments is launched by Heart Foundation and Quit Victoria to help Victorian councils adopt smokefree policies in outdoor areas - like playgrounds, alfrescoes, sports grounds and facilities, council events. The 4 factsheets and CD-Rom developed from NSW kit (below, Resources) devised earlier by Heart Foundation, ASH, the AMA, Cancer Council and LGSA.  Victorian councils' smokefree policies will also be surveyed as are those of NSW.  See Vic LG smokefree kit  and below, Resources Local Government,  What's Been Done (Australia)   Quit/Heart Foundation release on  Port Phillip beaches smokefree 10/11/10

NSW councils move forward on smokefree areas

2011: More NSW councils move ahead with public support on smokefree crowded public areas policies. North Sydney unanimously seeks staff report on feasibility of a raft of smokefree areas to go to public consultation; Marrickville consults on a similar review (later passed). More than half of NSW councils have adopted smokefree policies, including 25 with smokefree outdoor dining on public land.  See  Heart Foundation media release 10/9/10, survey and chart of all NSW council policies at 31/7/10 - note below, several more reforms since then

Going smokefree has not hurt our trade: Wagga alfrescoes 

2011: Wagga's smokefree outdoor dining businesses say they're living proof going smokefree doesn't hurt dining trade.  From Wagga Daily Advertiser  21/2/11:

According to Café Cucina’s Vicki Higginson the Wagga businesses are proof smoking bans do not affect profit or significantly decrease patronage. She yesterday argued that vigorous opposition to the ban on the grounds it will have an adverse economic impact on the hospitality industry has been demonstrated to be unfounded in Wagga.
“When Wagga City Council imposed the ban on smoking in outdoor dining areas in the main street there was a small amount of protest from regular smokers but they seemed to get over it fairly quickly,” Ms Higginson said.
“Overall everyone seemed to be happy because the majority of people don’t want to be around a smoker or have their children around someone smoking. I may have lost a few customers because they could no longer smoke there but it definitely wasn’t many, and I have had quite a few new customers tell me they choose to come here because it is smoke free. It has made the environment cleaner, there are no cigarette butts lying under the tables and the air is fresh.”

This supports all previous independent research - e.g.  NSW Health Dept data showing 7 people attracted to smokefree venues for every one deterred.  

Wagga went ahead with smokefree alfresco dining against aggressive interference by the tobacco industry. See  ASH media release 31/3/09   Tobacco company BAT tried to derail the move by misleading councillors.  ASH media release 27/11/08   Excerpts from BATA letter and ASH response 

NT, ACT join Qld with all staffed drinking/dining areas smokefree

2011: The Northern Territory government has made all staffed/serviced outdoor drinking/dining areas smokefree from January 2011. It becomes the third jurisdiction to do this, after Queensland (2006) and ACT (December 2010). NSW is considering public submissions to a review.  See  Australian state and territory  LEGISLATION 

WA makes playgrounds, patrolled beaches and most alfrescoes smokefree
2010: Legislation taking effect in Sept 2010 makes smokefree all unlicensed alfresco dining areas (and at least 50% of licensed outdoor dining areas); playgrounds and patrolled beach areas.  See  Protecting Children news 

Hobart malls go smokefree
2010:  Three major pedestrian malls in Hobart are smokefree from August 1,  thanks to Hobart City Council.  See  Hobart City Council media release 1/8/10   The move was backed by very strong community and business support.    See  ABC news report 2/12/09 

Warringah joins smokefree snowball
2010: Sydney northern council Warringah has voted to extend its smokefree areas to include alfresco dining, bus shelters, fixed seating and entrances of sports venues, council car parks and events.  See  Manly Daily report 27/5/10  

Sea Eagles' home ground goes smokefree
2009: Brookvale Oval, home ground of Rugby League's Manly Sea Eagles, is smokefree by unanimous vote of Warringah Council. The issue was brought to council by an asthmatic 13-year-old fan.  See  Councillor Virginia Laugeson media release featuring ASH Australia, 3/8/09

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS

Wales cleans up playground smoking

December 2011: Playgrounds are going 100% smokefree in Wales - with the help of information resources modelled on NSW. The reforms also cover hospital and health settings and schoolgrounds. The British Lung Foundation has called for additional policies. Wales Online 6/12/11  ASH Wales smokefree playgrounds kit    and NSW smokefree councils kit 

 

Clear... but cute ! No smoking sign  on South Korean beach     Photo sent by Rob, ASH supporter December 2011

Seoul cleans up parks, bus stops

December 2011: South Korea's capital Seoul has made 20 of its public parks and 314 bus stops smokefree by law.  KBSworld 1/12/11

Two European beaches go smokefree
August 2011: An Italian and a French beach on the Mediterranean have recently gone smokefree by local government decision. Bibione beach, near Venice, has introduced a test smoking ban, following similar action at Codognotto, near Marseille.  AFP report 7/8/11 

LA law makes outdoor dining smokefree
March 2011: Los Angeles has followed its smokefree parks and beaches laws with a ban on smoking in alfresco dining areas. The only exemptions are for bars, nightclubs and private functions.   Xinhua News 4/3/11   

Big Apple goes seriously smokefree
February 2011: New York City's beaches, parks, boardwalks, marinas and pedestrian plazas - including the heart of Times Square - are going smokefree under laws passed by the City Council. The laws are being hailed as a boost to public health, workplace safety and the urban environment.  Associated Press report 2/2/11 

Californian city's bold smokefree policy
2008: City of Calabasas, California USA, enacts smokefree law covering all rental housing - as well as all crowded public places, workplaces of any enclosure. Smoking limited to non-unit private dwellings and designated outdoor smoking areas. See Calabasas smokefree law

LATEST RESEARCH 
- health, economic, opinion studies on smokefree outdoor areas

See also  SmokeFree Australia  webpages on Health, Economic and Opinion research

Secondhand exposure may increase children's lead levels

August 2011: A study of almost 7000 US children and young adults aged 3-19 years shows tobacco exposure raising lead levels in the blood by as much as 28%. Lead levels can cause permanent learning impairment. Authors suggest eliminating secondhand exposure.  Abstract

Secondhand smoke harms DNA, teen hearing
July 2011: Two new studies show  passive smoking causes genetic harm increasing risk of stillbirth and defects; and can almost double teen hearing loss. Boosts call for state and local governments to make crowded public places including alfresco dining areas 100% smokefree by law.  Protecting Children from Tobacco (42 NGOs) release 21/7/11 

Smoky workplaces harm workers' lungs: study
May 2011: Study of 186 non-smoking catering workers in Hong Kong finds workplace secondhand smoke exposure harms lung function. Authors add that "Workplace exemptions and delays in implementing smoke-free policies... are a major threat to the health of workers".   See  abstract 

NSW public overwhelmingly support smokefree alfrescoes

March 2011: A poll of NSW voters shows 83% support for proposed NSW legislation to make outdoor areas where food or drink is served 100% smokefree. Newspoll survey commissioned by Cancer Council NSW also shows strong support for smokefree in or near children's playgrounds and building entrances.   See  Cancer Council NSW media release 3/3/11

Child smoke exposure linked to ADHD, stuttering, headaches
2010: Research presented to an Asia-Pacific conference shows children exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke increase their risk of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, stuttering and headaches.  The study has boosted calls for protection of children from smoke in private and public places.  See  APACT conference media release 8/10/10

Protection of pregnant women from smoke call after studies show foetal  harm
2010: Health and child welfare groups call for dining/drinking areas and other workplaces to be 100% smokefree, after global review of 76 studies on impact of passive smoking on pregnancy confirms it causes lower birthweight, increases birth abnormalities. See   ASH / Protecting Children from Tobacco release 12/2/10   and  review abstract    

Babies' exposure boosts adult emphysema risk
2009: Prenatal and postnatal exposure of babies to secondhand smoke increases their risk of emphysema as adults, says a study of 1700 non-smokers in the American Journal of Epidemiology.  See  study abstract 

Secondhand exposure doubles children's lung cancer risk
2009:  Secondhand smoke exposure during childhood is associated with a more than doubled lung cancer risk among never smokers, says a study in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention.  See  study abstract

Secondhand smoke doubles and worsens chronic rhinosinusitis
2009: Childhood or current exposure to secondhand smoke more than doubles risk of chronic rhinosinusitis, suggests Johns Hopkins University study in American Journal of Rhinology and Allergy. Severity of the disease may also be worsened.  See  study abstract

Study of smoke harm for children shows urgency of smokefree public places 
2009: A study showing secondhand smoke harm to blood vessels of toddlers shows why we need public places - especially outdoor dining areas - 100% smokefree.  See 
Protecting Children from Tobacco media release 24/11/09  

Manly's diners embrace smokefree alfrescoes
2009: Survey of dining businesses in northern Sydney beachside suburb Manly shows strong support for smokefree outdoor dining policy introduced over the past four years. See  Manly Council release 22/9/09    and  survey summary table    See our briefing paper on  100% smokefree al fresco dining

Community support soars for smokefree dining  
2009:  Governments have been "slow to act" in catching up with strong community support for smokefree public places.  See NSW survey findings in  Aust & NZ Journal of Public Health article

WHAT'S BEEN DONE  (Australia)

See on Australian Hotels Association website,  national chart  of smokefree local council policies (not sure how up to date). The AHA is long associated with the tobacco industry, and has lobbied for many years against smokefree drinking and dining areas.

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

The ACT made all public food and drink service areas smokefree from end- 2010.  ABC News report 8/12/09  and earlier  SmokeFree Australia media release 2/6/09

NEW SOUTH WALES     
See  Heart Foundation report 2011  on NSW councils' smokefree policies at 31/6/11 - NB more since then
NSW legislation on smokefree crowded outdoor areas is almost non-existent. In 2010-11 a public consultation was held, the results still (July 2011) being considered by the NSW Government. 89 NSW councils - almost 60% - have adopted smokefree policies. 

NORTHERN TERRITORY

The NT government made all staffed/serviced outdoor drinking/dining areas smokefree from January 2011.  See  NT laws  

QUEENSLAND
Queensland from 2006 banned smoking in playgrounds, patrolled beaches and alfresco dining areas in state legislation.  Result: High awareness, "extremely high" public support, increased quitting, and "largely self-enforcing".  Queensland government has given local councils the right to ban smoking in public transport waiting areas and shopping malls - Brisbane's central mall will be 100% smokefree by 2012.  Brisbane Courier Mail 23/7/11

SOUTH AUSTRALIA
State legislation on outdoor public places is very weak. 

TASMANIA
50% of outdoor dining areas are smokefree and this will become 100% by 1 March 2012 - legislation awaiting passage in Upper House. Meantime, Hobart City Council has made CBD alfrescoes under its control smokefree, with strong public support.   

VICTORIA

State laws are weak. But following example of many NSW councils (above), some local councils have made crowded alfrescoes and shopping areas and some beaches smokefree, and more reforms are expected to follow soon. 

WESTERN AUSTRALIA 
WA legislation made smokefree from September 2010 all unlicensed alfresco dining areas (and at least 50% of licensed outdoor dining areas - currently proposing to extend to 100%); playgrounds, patrolled beaches.  

RESOURCES  for local government

North Sydney residents make smokefree case in YouTube vid
July 2011: With smokefree areas including alfrescoes, playgrounds and transport shelters in a public consultation process, North Sydney residents have made a nine-minute video enthusiastically spelling out the positives.  Smoke-free North Sydney YouTube vid 

Smokefree Outdoor Areas resource kits for NSW and Vic councils

See also: 

• World Health Organization  Guide to tobacco-free mega events 

• NSW Council smokefree policies  - Heart Foundation report 2011

• Cancer Council NSW background page on  Outdoor smoking

• ASH / SmokeFree Australia / Protecting Children from Tobacco brief to Councils and businesses (NSW)  on  100% smokefree alfresco dining

Page last updated 23/1/12