South Australia smoking ban: Now lighting up in alfresco dining venues prohibited

South Australia (SA) is in the process of implementing a new smoking ban that would prevent people from lighting up in alfresco dining venues. The ban from Friday would apply to all clubs, pubs, fast-food outlets, cafes and restaurants.

While the Heart Foundation believes that the ban will help cut the rate of heart diseases, Cancer Council SA's chief executive Lincoln Size said he is pleased by the fact that workers and diners would be protected both outside and inside venues.

“In South Australia, smoking kills around 21 people every week and we are determined to de-normalise the behaviour and minimise the devastation caused to so many families from smoking-related illness,” Size had said in a statement.

Heart Foundation acting chief executive Rachel McKay said that expanding smoke-free areas reinforces the fact that smoking is not a desirable social behaviour and it also reduces exposure. He added that majority of the people do not smoke and don’t want to breathe other people’s second-hand smoke.

“Smoking prevalence has reduced significantly to 12.8% of South Australian adults due to strong state and national tobacco control policies. We want to see this number reduce even further and this latest regulation to expand smoke-free areas will support our community’s health as well as our economy,” McKay said in a Heart Foundation press release.

Smoking will be allowed in beer gardens where pre-packaged snack food is served. The ban will apply to pipes, cigars, cigarettes, water pipes, hookah and shisha. According to the ABC, people caught smoking in outside areas will face a fine of $200 and businesses fluting the rules may be fined $1,250.

Size added that cigarettes will be heading towards $40 a pack and a greater price to pay would be the “increased risk of up to 16 different types of cancer that a smoker faces.”

The new financial year will also bring with it increased charges and taxes for South Australians including driving licence charges, car registration fees and higher public transport fares. There will also be an increase in most speeding fines and many will face a 1.5 percent increase in emergency services, reports Sky News.