Council plan to shame smokers at outdoor dining areas

SMOKERS would be shamed into restricting their smoking at outdoor dining areas under a novel campaign being considered by an inner-city council.

Instead of banning smoking in alfresco dining precincts, the City of Yarra is looking at a campaign calling on smokers to be more considerate of the majority.

"This will require a community regulation approach where it will become the norm for smokers to move away from non-smokers especially where eating and drinking or people are seated and/or congregating," says a proposal before a council meeting tonight.

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Several councils have introduced bans at children's playgrounds and some other public spaces but so far only Baw Baw Shire has moved to outlaw smoking in outdoor dining areas.

The Municipal Association of Victoria wants the State Government to launch a statewide alfresco ban and to consider one at beaches too.

A six-month community consultation by Yarra Council has revealed strong support for a smoking ban at playgrounds but opinions are sharply divided over whether it should extend to outdoor dining areas.

The proposal before council says that a health promotion campaign, supported by local businesses, might work in areas where smoking is not restricted.

"(It would) call on smokers to be considerate of the majority," it said.