Tobacco Act compliance

Adopted Smoke Free Environment Policy

Reducing tobacco-related harm is a key health priority with the Shire's Council and Wellbeing Plan 2021-2025.

On 26 November 2019, Council adopted the Smoke Free Environment Policy. It sets out council’s objectives and actions with regard to smoke free areas and gives council and the community a clear process to establish designated smoke free areas. The Policy includes a staged approach to implementation, with each stage involving community and stakeholder consultation.

The Shire is working with local community groups and Peninsula Health to make the Peninsula smoke free.

Smoke free dining

Smoke free dining legislation has been in place in Victoria since July 2001. This legislation requires that all indoor dining areas in restaurants, cafes, hotels and clubs are smoke-free.

There is a strong community support for smoke-free outdoor dining. Smoke-free outdoor dining will:

  • protect the community from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.
  • de-normalise smoking behaviours, which is particularly important for discouraging children from taking up smoking.
  • support people who have recently quit smoking or who are trying to quit smoking by removing smoking visual cues and triggers.
  • improve Victorians' outdoor dining experience.

From 1 August 2017, the Victorian Government has banned smoking as follows:

  • in outdoor areas at hospitality and food venues used for eating food. This includes footpath dining areas, courtyards and beer gardens during times food is being eaten or is available to be eaten.
  • in all outdoor areas at food fairs. A food fair is an event where the principal activity is the supply of food for consumption at the event.
  • within 10 metres of a food stall or food vendor at organised outdoor event (other than a food fair).

To complement smoke-free outdoor dining, smoking is banned in an outdoor drinking area if any part of that area is within 4 metres of an outdoor dining area, unless separated by a wall of at least 2.1 metres high. This means the two areas can be separated by either:

  • a 4-metre buffer zone; or
  • a wall of at least 2.1 metres high.

If the separation requirement is not met, smoking is banned in an outdoor drinking area. This law applies to the same venue as well as to neighbouring venues.

The Shire is committed to working with hotels, restaurants, cafés and other affected businesses to support smoke-free dining.

Tobacco sales

To assist in the minimising the number of people taking up smoking, laws have been introduced to limit the size and number of tobacco displays and to eliminate tobacco advertisements in retail outlets.

Tobacco retailers are required to display a prescribed ‘Health Warning’ sign and a prescribed prohibition of the sale of tobacco to under 18’s sign. Should a tobacco retailer choose to display a tobacco price board it must be accompanied by a prescribed ‘Graphic Health Warning’ sign. These signs can be obtained from the Environmental Health Team 

Tobacco sales to minors

It is an offence under the Tobacco Act 1987(PDF, 973KB) to supply tobacco to a person under the age of 18 years. Retailers are advised to ask customers for proof of identity if they appear to be at or below the age of 25 years. Verification of a person’s age must be done through an evidence of age document such as a passport, driver’s licence or proof of age card.

Tobacco retailers are required to display a prescribed ‘Health Warning’ sign and a prescribed prohibition of the sale of tobacco to under 18’s sign. Should a tobacco retailer choose to display a tobacco price board it must be accompanied by a prescribed ‘Graphic Health Warning’ sign. These signs can be obtained from the Shire’s Environmental Health Team.

The Shire conducts regular test purchasing and tobacco inspections at tobacco retailers to assess compliance with Tobacco Act 1987. 

 

Smoking in Shopping Centres

Shopping centres throughout Victoria are legally required to be smoke-free.

Shopping centre management must also provide the appropriate signs to ensure that patrons are aware of the legislation and must take reasonable action if a person is found smoking in a shopping centre.

 

Smoking in licensed gaming venues

In addition to smoke-free dining laws, laws have been put in place to prohibit smoking in gaming and licensed venues(PDF, 2MB) across Victoria.

 

Smoke free public areas

In April 2015, Victoria’s anti-smoking laws were expanded. These smoke-free public areas include:

  • within 4 metres of the entrances to indoor children’s play centres, public hospitals and registered community health centres, and certain Victorian Government buildings including but not limited to including Parliament, law courts and police stations.
  • the grounds of, and entrances to, childcare centres, kindergartens, preschools and primary and secondary schools
  • within 10 metres of outdoor recreational areas where children play, including playground equipment, skate parks and sporting venues during under-age sporting events
  • outdoor areas of public swimming pools
  • patrolled beaches
  • enclosed workplaces
  • train stations, tram-stop platforms and tram and bus shelters
  • under-age music or dance events