Auckland All for Smokefree Outdoor Dining

Auckland All for Smokefree Outdoor Dining

In a bid to encourage the Auckland Council to make outdoor dining Smokefree, Cancer Society Auckland are showing Auckland’s large support for the cause with a pop up Smokefree restaurant in Aotea Square on Friday, October 3rd 12-2pm.

Cancer Society Auckland and Outside The Square, AUT’s student-based public relations consultancy, have teamed up with The Food Truck to host a pop up Smokefree outdoor dining experience. Aucklanders are encouraged to come along to show their support for Smokefree outdoor dining and enjoy the Food Truck’s delicious menu.

Currently Auckland Council is reviewing the Trading and Events in Public Places Bylaw with the possibility of making outdoor dining Smokefree.

Smokefree outdoor dining is popular amongst Aucklanders. In a 2013 public opinion survey, 91% of those interviewed said they would be ‘more likely’ or ‘as likely’ to visit outdoor dining areas of a restaurant/café if it was Smokefree.

Auckland Council has committed to making outdoor dining Smokefree by 2018. Currently, this will be done through a voluntary policy reliant on the public enforcing Smokefree. However local public opinion research shows that Aucklanders would prefer a Smokefree bylaw with a possibility of a fine (57%) over a voluntary policy (37%). In Australia, high compliance has been achieved with a bylaw approach.

“Smoking is the leading cause of disease and death in New Zealand, with approximately 5,000 people dying each year due to smoking related illnesses. We know from research that patrons of outdoor dining can be exposed to harmful levels of second-hand smoke, and that the more children see smoking around them the more they are likely to start smoking” says John Loof, Cancer Society Auckland Chief Executive. “Therefore it is really important that Smokefree outdoor dining is including in the Trading and Events bylaw.”

Food Truck owners, James Anderson and Nick Ward, are strong supporters for Smokefree outdoor dining to be included in the bylaw. Anderson says “we are damn proud to have full Smokefree outdoor dining as it provides a healthier and cleaner dining experience for our customers.”

The Food Truck’s main restaurant, The Food Truck Garage, is already Smokefree and the owners hope that by showing Auckland Council the large support from the public, every outdoor dining space across Auckland will become Smokefree.

By making outdoor dining Smokefree, Outside the Square and Cancer Society Auckland hope to de-normalise smoking in the Auckland community and create a future with less cancer for the next generation.

Outside the Square and Cancer Society have set up the Facebook page www.facebook.com/pages/Make-Outdoor-Dining-Smokefree-In-Auckland/1460437100894945, and the tag #sharetheair, for Aucklanders to show their support online.

ENDS

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