A first anniversary report assessing impacts of the Smoke-free Environments Amendment Act (2003) has found strong public support, increasing patronage trends in bars, and no significant economic impacts for hospitality venues overall. The law introduced smoking bans for all indoor workplaces and hospitality venues from 10 December 2004, to help protect all New Zealanders from the harmful health effects of second-hand smoke exposure.
The report includes information about:
- Public attitudes and support for smoke-free environments
- Exposure to second-hand smoke in workplaces and bars Smoking behaviour and patronage trends in bars
- Economic impact on hospitality venues Bar managers’ perceptions of economic impact
- Compliance (national complaints database) Downstream impacts on smoking consumption, Quitline callers, and second-hand smoke exposure in homes.
Key Results
- Public approval: Over 90 percent of the public support workers’ rights to work in an environment free of second-hand smoke, including in bars and restaurants.
- There have been relatively few complaints about smoking in prohibited places (less than 350) and no workplace prosecutions since the Amendment came into force.
- Second-hand smoke exposure levels: Before the Amendment came into effect, a national study of second-hand smoke exposure in bars across New Zealand confirmed that, even in ‘seemingly smoke-free’ bars, patrons were exposed to detectable levels of secondhand smoke.
- The Amendment has been effective in increasing the number of smoke-free indoor workplaces to 91 percent, potentially saving about 100 lives per year. However, some workers, particularly smokers and Māori, report ongoing second-hand smoke exposure in their indoor workplaces.
- Economic impact: Consistent with international studies, available information suggests there has been a neutral to positive impact on revenues for hospitality venues since they have been required to be 100 percent smoke-free indoors. Data show no negative trends for the main hospitality industries overall.
- Available information shows that patronage trends have increased for non-smokers (up from 33 percent to 49 percent for bars) and smokers have continued to visit bars at levels similar to those before the Amendment came into effect.
- Downstream impacts on smoking-related behaviour: Emerging evidence suggests possible downstream impacts of the Amendment, including less exposure to secondhand smoke in homes, a downward trend in cigarette consumption and an initial increase in calls to the national Quitline.