Australia: Quit Victoria Steps up Push to Ban Smoking in Outdoor Eating Areas

Source from:  Daily Telegraph/Sunday Telegraph (au)  04/18/2013

A PUSH to ban smoking in outdoor eating areas will be stepped up today, with health groups launching an online campaign to pressure the Napthine Government. 
 
The Asthma Foundation Victoria, Australian Medical Association, Cancer Council Victoria, Heart Foundation, and Quit Victoria are calling for public submissions urging the Government to add outdoor drinking and dining areas to smoke-free areas it is now consulting on, ahead of future bans.

Victoria is Australia's only state not to have introduced or committed to outdoor dining smoking bans.

NTS, and  Asthma Foundation Victoria chief executive Robin Ould said tougher restrictions were needed to protect children.

With her family unable to eat outdoors due to the impact it has on her five-year-old son Callum's severe asthma, Samantha Upton, who also works with Quit, is keen to see the bans in place.

"With Callum's asthma we have to be vigilant and it is difficult to enjoy alfresco dining if somebody is smoking because we have to change tables or move indoors, which is not ideal with young children'' Ms Upton said. Enditem