New Zealand extends smoking ban to bars and restaurants

New Zealand will join a growing list of countries that have banned smoking in indoor public places such as bars, public toilets and office buildings when tougher laws take effect later this week.

Parliament last year passed the Smoke-free Environments Act, extending controls on smoking first introduced in 1990 in some work and public spaces to all indoor workplaces, as well as elevators, bathrooms, taxis, and parts of ships and trains.

The tougher laws take effect on Friday, imposing fines of up to NZ$400 (€213.40) on owners of small private businesses such as restaurants and NZ$4,000 (€2,100) on big companies that violate the ban. Individuals caught smoking will not face penalties.

Opponents have said the law is unenforceable, and some in the nation’s hospitality industry are worried about losing profits since smoking will be banned in restaurants, bars, cafés and clubs.

But government legislators said the new law was about saving lives.

“This is about societal change. It’s a big mind-set shift,” said Labour lawmaker Steve Chadwick.

Casino operator Sky City has built eight outdoor smoking balconies to accommodate patrons who want to light up, said media relations manager Delwyn Lewer.

The casino and hotel group has estimated it will lose NZ$10m (€5.3m) this financial year as a direct result of the ban.

Hotels, restaurants and nightclubs were also gearing up for the new controls, Hospitality Association chief executive Bruce Robertson said.

Smoking will also be banned in schools, childcare centres and anywhere young people gather, but will still be allowed in hotel rooms, passenger and staff quarters on ships and trains, in prison cells, at employers’ homes and in church halls.

Ministry of Health environmental health manager Graeme Gillespie said enforcement of the new law would initially be based on responding to complaints, but acknowledged that a more pro-active approach may eventually be needed.

Ireland, Canada, several European nations and the US states of California and New York have imposed similar smoking bans, and Britain is expected to follow shortly.

Edna Bennett, 90, who claims to have smoked since the age of four when she “pinched” cigars from her father, is upset about the ban on smoking inside her favourite café.

“The government has a cheek interfering in people’s lives. I’ve never done anyone any harm but I’m running out of places where I can smoke,” she said. “What next?”