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Jim McGinty


Sun 16 July, 2006

Pub staff to breathe easy from July 31

Portfolio: Health

16/07/06

More than 45,000 people face a healthier working life, with smoking to be banned inside all pubs and clubs throughout Western Australia in a fortnight.

Health Minister Jim McGinty said that from July 31, everyone from bar staff to glassies and waiters would no longer be exposed to hazardous secondhand smoke.

Launching a new television campaign to alert the public to the change, Mr McGinty said the smoking ban was to protect the health of all Western Australians who patronised or worked in pubs, sporting clubs, and nightclubs.

“The health risks associated with secondhand smoke are well-documented and indisputable,” the Minister said.

“Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated that exposure to secondhand smoke causes or promotes a number of illnesses and diseases, including lung cancer and heart disease.”

The United States Surgeon General's latest report on smoking and health found there was no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

The report found that secondhand smoke caused premature death and disease in children and in adults who did not smoke.

Recent research has also found that passive tobacco smoke was responsible for the deaths of at least 220 Australians a year, and was costing the nation about $50million in hospital care alone.

“The smoking bans from July 31 mean employees will no longer be exposed to hazardous secondhand smoke inside pubs, clubs, and nightclubs,” Mr McGinty said.

“With just two weeks to go before pubs and clubs go smoke-free, now is a good time to quit smoking for your own health, and the health of others.”

The Minister said about 25 per cent of smokers, or an estimated 62,500 people, were expected to quit once pubs and clubs go smoke-free.

“Pubs and clubs will be fresher, family-friendly places to go to once they are smoke-free inside,” he said.

“The days of going home smelling like an ashtray after a night out at the pub will be history.”

Under the new Tobacco Products Control Regulations, individuals caught smoking in restricted areas and pubs, or clubs which allow smoking inside, will face fines of up to $2,000.

Mr McGinty said new provisions under the Tobacco Control Act would also come into effect at the end of the month to reduce the availability of tobacco products to minors and further diminish the influences of tobacco advertising.

The provisions of the Act to take effect from July 31 this year would:
  • require retailers to check for ID when selling tobacco products;
  • restrict the sale of tobacco papers, pipes and other tobacco smoking implements to people under 18;
  • double the penalties for people caught selling cigarettes to children;
  • restrict cigarette vending machines to licensed premises and mine sites only;
  • prohibit hawkers of tobacco products;
  • ban the advertising of price discounting on tobacco products; and
  • regulate the sale and promotion of herbal cigarettes, and prohibit the sale of confectionary and toys which resembled cigarettes.
In addition, new licensing-related provisions to take effect from February 2007 would require anyone who sells tobacco products to be licensed, ban point-of-sale advertising, and limit displays of cigarettes to one square metre.

“Research shows that smoking accounts for about 19,000 deaths in Australia each year with about 1,500 of those deaths in WA,” Mr McGinty said.

“WA is leading the nation when it comes to combating smoking, with the most comprehensive tobacco control laws in Australia.”

Minister's office: (08) 9422 3000



Page last revised:25 Mar 2008