[Intl-tobacco] New Moves To Ban Smoking In New Zealand Bars

[Robert Weissman]

"Dominion" (Wellington), 15/2/01
Plans to stub out smoking relit
15 FEBRUARY 2001
By CHRISTINE LANGDON

Health Minister Annette King is pushing ahead with plans to clamp down on
smoking in cafes and bars after winning support from the Alliance. Mrs
King floated the idea of smoking bans last year but had to back down after
the smoking and hospitality industries called the plan untenable, and the
Alliance signalled that just two of its 10 members would support it.

But government sources said this week that the proposals were back on
track.

Alliance health spokeswoman Phillida Bunkle said the party had accepted
smoking bans were necessary and feasible - though she would not say
whether it would support total bans.

Ms Bunkle suggested last year splitting cafes and bars into smoking and
non-smoking zones, but the anti-smoking lobby and hospitality industry
branded the compromise a copout.

Cafes and bars said tougher smokefree rules would cripple them.

After looking at overseas bans, the Alliance believed businesses would not
suffer from new controls on smoking, and changes were crucial to protect
hospitality workers, Ms Bunkle said.

"The Alliance has adopted a resolution that workers' needs would be
paramount in this issue . . . There is definitely going to be some
progress," she said.

Mrs King would not comment yesterday on the proposed amendments, which are
still to be considered by the Cabinet.

Amendments to the Smokefree Environments Act are before the health select
committee and submissions are scheduled to be heard from April 23.

But the Government has not produced the supplementary order papers that
will set out proposed law changes on smoking in public places.

Anti-smoking groups said they welcomed any toughening up of smokefree
legislation.