Outdoor dining may go smokefree

‘‘Staying smokefree is a bit of a no-brainer.’’ Under the Red Verandah’s Jennifer Kippenberger

Outdoor dining areas on Christchurch City Council-owned footpaths could soon become smokefree.

The council is considering extending its existing smokefree public places policy to include footpaths it leases for outdoor dining.

It would be voluntary like the rest of the smokefree policy, but could eventually become part of new lease agreements.

The smokefree policy already encourages people not to smoke at council playgrounds, parks, reserves, bus stops and shelters, as well as the spaces outside the main entrances and exits of all councilowned buildings including the Civic Offices, service centres, libraries, recreation centres and community halls.

The move to expand the policy is part of a Smokefree 2025 action plan, to reduce the prevalence of smoking in the city.

In the 2013 census, 13.5 per cent of people aged 15 and over in Christchurch said they were regular smokers. The figure was just below the national average of 13.7 per cent, but higher than Wellington’s 9.5 per cent and Auckland’s 11.6 per cent.

The council’s social and community development committee unanimously supported the action plan yesterday, but it would need final approval by the full council.

Councillor Aaron Keown said cheaper rents could be offered to venues who went smokefree.

He also wanted the council to look into reducing the amount of cigarette butts that ended up polluting the city’s waterways.

Cr Tim Scandrett said if the council’s end game was to stipulate on a footpath lease agreement that there be no smoking, then it needed robust information first.

The Cancer Society and the Canterbury District Health Board have just completed a six-month smokefree outdoor dining pilot study, involving 20 Christchurch cafes, bars and restaurants.

According to the preliminary results, an overwhelming majority of Cantabrians supported smokefree outside dining.

Cancer Society health promotion and IT services manager Martin Witt said no business reported a decrease in customers and many venues said being completely smokefree was good for business.

He said more than 95 per cent of the 1861 customers who gave feedback on the pilot supported smokefree outdoor dining and 72 per cent said they were more likely to visit the venue again because the outdoor dining area was smokefree.

All 18 venues that completed the pilot have chosen to stay smokefree. One cafe exited the pilot after five months when it was sold and another venue withdrew at the start of the pilot.

Laneway Espresso owner Stuart Winter said he initially had some reservations about going 100 per cent smokefree, but it was the right thing to do and was the norm for the business now.

Under the Red Verandah’s Jennifer Kippenberger said going smokefree had been good for business.

‘‘Staying smokefree is a bit of a no-brainer. Most feedback has been really good, with literal pats on the back from customers who like the more family-friendly environment.’’

Cr Glenn Livingstone said the pilot study had provided good evidential data on smokefree outdoor dining.

‘‘There was a fear it would cost them, but this is good for business.’’

The Government decided in 2011 to work toward a smokefree New Zealand by 2025.