Survey shows smoking bans must go further
September 17, 2007
A survey of 93 hotels and night clubs around Perth has revealed
that smoking remains widespread in the majority of premises and
impacting on the health of staff and non-smokers, despite the introduction
of smoking restrictions more than a year ago.
The survey was carried out over two Friday evenings late last
year by 20 medical students recruited by the AMA (WA).
"The survey shows that a complete ban on smoking, both inside
and outside licensed premises and restaurants, is urgently required," said
association President Prof Geoff Dobb.
"Although 85 per cent of adults in WA do not smoke, they continue
to be assaulted by second-hand smoking drifting from alfresco balconies,
beer gardens and street cafes.
"Indeed, the present legislation risks turning these popular and
highly visible entertainment areas into nicotine classrooms for
the young and no-go zones for non-smokers."
Prof Dobb said the survey targeted indoor areas (legally smoke
free), semi-outdoor areas (smoke free, failing to meet exemption
criteria) and alfresco areas (smoking allowed).
While smoking was observed in only 5 per cent of indoor areas,
there was universal smoking in alfresco areas (97 per cent) and
smoking in the majority of semi-outdoor areas (57 percent).
Overall, smoking was observed in 69 of the 93 premises (74 percent)
and of these 35 (53 per cent) enabled smokers to be visible to
the passing public.
"Although smoking is Australia is declining, one in seven 16 to
17-year-olds smoked cigarettes in the previous month," said Prof
Dobb.
"Peer pressure is an important influence on smoking uptake and
alfresco areas crammed with smokers are sending out all the wrong
signals to our young people."
Prof Dobb said the survey demonstrated the inadequacy of the new
smoke-free legislation, which had been well accepted by West Australians.
"The WA Government needs to take the next step and apply the bans
to other hospitality areas," he said. "Failing that we urge all
other local councils to follow the lead of Fremantle and ban smoking
in alfresco areas immediately."
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