The City of Yarra is considering shaming smokers into refraining from lighting up, in a new campaign to curb smoking in public areas. Instead of banning smoking in alfresco dining precincts, the City of Yarra is looking at a campaign that considers calling on smokers to be more considerate of the majority of the community. Still in its consideration phase, the campaign would involve a community regulation where it will become the norm for smokers to move away from non-smokers especially in areas where people congregate to eat or drink.
The Yarra Council has undergone a six-month community consultation, which revealed strong support for a smoking ban at playgrounds, although opinions are still divided over whether it should extend to outdoor dining areas. The council’s proposal says support from businesses is important to the success of teh campaign in areas where smoking is not prohibited. Several councils have introduced smoking bans in children’s playground and other public spaces, but so far only Baw Baw Shire has completely banned smoking in alfresco areas.
The City of Monash has put forward various moves towards making the council a ‘smoke-free zone’, which includes banning smoking in the alfresco dining area in Oakleigh’s Eaton Mall.