Public Health Report: Analysis of Outdoor Smoking Ban in Victoria

This report, addressed to the Mayor of the Municipal Association of Victoria, advocates for the prohibition of smoking in outdoor eateries. The author, a public health practitioner, applauds the initiative, emphasizing the harmful effects of second-hand smoke and the importance of protecting the community. The report discusses the proposed ban, which covers dining compounds at outdoor cafes, restaurants, and takeaway counters, and highlights the extensive discussions with health professionals, businesses, and the community. It references statistics on smoking prevalence and associated healthcare costs, and the Labor Government's commitment to tobacco harm reduction. The report also details the Monash Council's advocacy for the ban, including correspondence with state officials. The author thanks the Mayor and provides references to support the arguments.

Running head: PUBLIC HEALTH
PUBLIC HEALTH
Name of the Student:
Name of the University:
Author note

1PUBLIC HEALTH
To
The Mayor,
Municipal Association of Victoria
Victoria, Australia
Subject: Regarding the prohibition of smoking in outdoor eateries
Sir,
This is Brendon D’Moore, residing at Melbourne for last 15 years. I would like to start
my letter by applauding as well as thanking you for taking such an exceptional initiative towards
nicotine-free and a healthy environment. I am one of those keen followers of your missions that
always focuses in various types of anti-smoking campaigns throughout the state of Victoria and
Melbourne area. Being a professional public health practitioner, I always wanted to see, support
and finally participate in activities like the one you have come up with that will compel smokers
to refrain from smoking in public eateries and other open areas (1).
This particular proposal banning will cover up all the dining compounds at outdoor cafes,
restaurants, take-away counters containing the licensed compounds. The extensive discussion
will be commenced with health professionals, the businesses and the industries dealing
hospitality, local governments, and the community for informing the legislation and was being
waited for the introduction into the Parliament in the year, 2016 (3). The new aims that lead to
the banning for the protection of the community from the severe harmful effects of the second-
hand smoke, reduction of the visibility of the smokers and for the de-normalization of smoking

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for the young people, and mainly for the supporters for quitting smoke their good and proper life
style.
Supporters of the community for smoke-free outdoor dining that keeps on rising
continuously, with the latest research showing 73 per cent of Victorians, Cancer Council Victoria
supported the banning procedures. Unfortunately, only about 4000 lives of the people are lost
each and every year in Victoria due to smoking that costs approx $2.4 billion in the cost of
healthcare and the productivities lead to the loss. In recent research, around 13 per cent of
Victorians smoke (2). The Labor Government is mainly committed for the reduction of the harm
that was being caused by tobacco and will also continue for the identification in the further
prospects for reforming. It was the Labor that were being first introduced as a smoking bans in
Victoria in 2001 that has been enclosed in the restaurants, then in the workplaces, clubs or in the
pubs.
Few numbers of issues have been considered in the progression of the recommendations that
were being contained in the Section 4 of this particular report. These have related to (5):
 Banning of smoke are recommended to those particular places where food is served
 Level and cost of the compliance and enforcement
 Smoking have been banned in those areas where the regulations are strict
 Meeting the goals of the health of the national and state public
 Consequences for not acting
In modern times, Monash Council has been a major advocate for Victoria for banning on
smoking in outdoor dining areas (4):

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 Monash Mayor Greg Male, in the On 30 March 2011, wrote to the Premier, Ted Baillieu,
on asking for the particular legislation that needed for the introduction for banning smoke
in the outdoor dining areas. Regrettably, no response was available from MrBaillieu
 The Council determined, in December 2012, for writing to the Premier of Victoria, the
Minister for Health and local Members of Parliament, requested the introduction of the
State legislation for banning tobacco smoking, in the areas of alfresco dining and
drinking (3)
 On 10 January 2013, Monash Mayor Micaela Drieberg wrote again to Premier Baillieu,
by referencing Cr Male’s letter of 30 March 2011, and again looking for the state-wide
introduction of a banning on tobacco-smoking in outdoor dining areas. She also
mentioned similar letters to the Minister for Health and to local MPs representing
Monash
 In 2014 and as Mayor, it was being labeled then Minister for Health, David Davis, the
Minister for smoking passively for his lack of performances and actions on this particular
issue
 In the month of August 2014, it was also being welcomed Mr Davis’ for the declaration
that a re-elected Napthine Government would ban smoking tobacco in outdoor dining
locations if re-elected (5)
 Monash Mayor Paul Klisaris, on 16 February 2015, wrote to the Health Minister Jill
Hennessy, queried her for prioritized the introduction for a state for banning of smoking
tobacco in outdoor dining areas following the government’s pre-election commitment for
the introduction of a state-wide ban on smoking tobacco in outdoor dining areas. The
Minister reverted on 26 February 2015 without any commitments

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 In July 2015, at the MAV Councillor Development Weekend, it was also being asked Mr
Davis (the Shadow Minister for Local Government) regarding the policy dealt with the
opposition on this particular concerned and he assured that the opposition remained
sturdily in a supportive of a state-wide banning and he also condemned the government
for not taking any initiative for the advancement of the matter as it is being elected in
November 2014 and
 On 25 August 2015, Council considered a particular proposal to the Municipal
Association of Victoria (MAV) for advocating to the State Government for expanding the
current free laws smoke, however this was being lapsed on the basis that the state
government made an declaration two days prior for this particular meeting that it would
implementing a state-wide banning on smoking tobacco in outdoor restaurant areas (2)
Thanking You
Yours faithfully
Brendon D’Moore

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References:
1. Thomson G, Martin J, Gifford H, Parata K. Issues and options for progress towards a
smokefree city: A case study for smokefree outdoor policies.
2. Navas-Acien A, Çarkoğlu A, Ergör G, Hayran M, Ergüder T, Kaplan B, Susan J, Magid
H, Pollak J, Cohen JE. Compliance with smoke-free legislation within public buildings: a
cross-sectional study in Turkey. Bulletin of the World Health Organization. 2016 Feb
1;94(2):92.
3. Skelton E, Bonevski B, Tzelepis F, Shakeshaft A, Guillaumier A, Dunlop A, McCrabb S,
Palazzi K. Tobacco smoking policies in Australian alcohol and other drug treatment
services, agreement between staff awareness and the written policy document. BMC
public health. 2017 Jan 17;17(1):87.
4. Lund M. Exploring smokers' opposition to proposed tobacco control strategies. Nordic
Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. 2016 Nov;33(4):321-34.
5. Martin K, Dono J, Sharplin G, Bowden J, Miller C. Staff and patient perspectives of a
smoke-free health services policy in South Australia: A state-wide implementation.
Health Policy. 2017 Jun 20.