By Derek Schlennstedt
There are no ifs or butts about it, the smoking ban that comes into effect in August will see smoking removed from outdoor dining areas.
From 1 August, Victorian pubs and clubs will be required to adopt a four-metre buffer zone, or install plastic walls to shield diners from smoking customers. If the separation requirements are not met, smoking will be banned from that outdoor area.
The ban will also affect footpath dining, food fairs and other organised outdoor events, including community or street festivals.
Venue owners have had two years to consider the changes to the Tobacco Act, and many are ready for them; however catering for those changes may prove more difficult than first anticipated.
Healesville Hotel manager Heather Fraser supports the decision, and has had to re-arrange the beer garden to cater for the four-metre buffer zone change.
“We’ve assessed where we can move our tables to, so we can still allow people to smoke and also still serve food,” she said.
“While we did weigh up whether to become a completely smoke- free venue, we decided against it as people would end up on the pavement and guests would have to walk through the smoke in order to get to the hotel.”
“I’m hoping with everyone doing the same thing and smokers gradually realising that everywhere has taken the same approach, it won’t cause too much backlash.”
Some of those locations which are taking the same approach include The Healesville Grand Hotel where owner Michelle Schiavello also supports the changes, but said it was difficult to re-arrange their beer garden to accommodate for smokers and non-smokers.
“We have to adjust the beer garden, so we’re going to have a planter box and then the four metres between the tables.”
“It’s tricky, four metres is large and we don’t have that area to do that.”
“I think we may end up with more people standing outside, and then the butts will end up on the street,” she said.
Two years ago when the ban was announced Health Minister Jill Hennessy said the law was a step in the right direction and would help protect Victorians from the dangers of second-hand smoke.
“The new ban aims to protect the community from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke, reduce the visibility of smokers and de-normalise smoking for young people, and support smokers to quit for good.”
Around 13 percent of Victorians smoke, and according to HealthVic, more than 73 per cent of Victorians support the introduction of the ban.
