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.