Public concerns about the health risks of secondhand smoke (SHS) have increased from the late-1980s, and public support for restrictions on smoking has increased in parallel.
A 2003 systematic review of Australian studies (published from 1992 to 2002) found a 20% increase in support for bars and gaming venues to be entirely smokefree.1 The researchers predicted that support would ‘reach 80% or more within 6 months, should a ban be introduced’(p321).1 By the following year (2004), 73% supported bans to smoking in pubs and clubs, and 89% of Australians supported measures to ban smoking in restaurants (see Table 15.2.1 below).
A 2023 systematic review of data from 33 countries showed that support for smokefree environments was generally high, especially in areas where children could be exposed, e.g. cars. This study also revealed that, where measured, support typically increased after implementation of smokefree laws. Support was particularly strong among people who did not smoke, and increased over time post-implementation for people who did smoke.2
15.2.1 Community attitudes to indoor bans
15.2.1.1 National studies of attitudes to smoking bans
From 1998 to 2007, the National Drug Strategy Household Survey included questions to gauge community support for measures to reduce problems associated with tobacco use. Between 2001 and 2007, there were substantial increases in support for smoking bans in pubs and clubs, with the biggest increase in support among people who smoked (from 20.5% in 2001 to 41.3% in 2007) (Table 15.2.1). In 2004, 73.1% of respondents supported smoking bans in pubs and clubs. With the successful implementation of smoking bans in bars and pubs in various states and territories from 2004, this figure increased to 77% in 2007. Of all the venues asked about in 2007, support was highest for smoking bans in workplaces, with 82% of all respondents in support.
Levels of support increased over time in every state and territory, with the largest increases in support tending to follow the introduction of smoking bans (Figure 15.2.1).
15.2.1.2 State surveys of support for indoor smoking bans
Many surveys have documented increasing levels of public support for restrictions on smoking in indoor workplaces and other venues in Victoria,10-17 South Australia,18-23 Queensland 24 and New South Wales.25-27
Prior to implementation, when adults were asked whether smoking bans would make them more or less likely to visit licensed premises, the vast majority responded that smoking bans would make them either more likely to visit or would make no difference.27,28 In New South Wales in 2008, almost 40% of adults reported that they would be more likely, and only 4% would be less likely, to frequent hotels and licensed premises as a result of the total ban on smoking indoors that was implemented in 2007. For more than half of adults (56%), the total ban on smoking indoors in hotels and licensed premises would make no difference.27 Between 2003 and 2008, in New South Wales, there was a significant increase in the proportion of adults who reported being more likely to frequent hotels and licensed premises as a result of the total ban on smoking indoors (rising from 24.2% in 2003, to 36.9% in 2007, and 39.5% in 2008).27 At the same time, there was a decline in the proportion of adults who reported being less likely to frequent hotels and licensed premises as a result of the total ban on smoking indoors (falling from 9.8% in 2003 to 5.8% in 2007 to 4.3% in 2008).
15.2.2 Community attitudes to outdoor bans
15.2.2.1 Support for restrictions on smoking in places children gather: playgrounds and other areas
In 2007, two-thirds of Victorians and half of Victorians who smoked agreed that smoking should not be allowed in outdoor areas where children are present (Table 15.2.2).
The survey found almost universal support for banning smoking in the grounds of primary and secondary schools, among people who smoke, people who have quit smoking, and those who had never smoked (95.5%, 95.7% and 97.6% respectively) (Table 15.2.3).29 Smokefree legislation has since been introduced in Victoria for government school grounds (2009), and for all school grounds (2015).
A number of studies found very strong support for restrictions on smoking in playgrounds.26,29-33 Legislation banning smoking within 10 metres of children’s playgrounds in Victoria has since been implemented (2014).
Surveys of adults conducted in New South Wales in 2006, 2007 and 2009 found overwhelming support for restricting smoking in playgrounds, see Table 15.2.4 below.26,31 While support for smokefree restrictions was higher among people who did not smoke, there was majority support even among people who did smoke. In 2006, support for making playgrounds smokefree by law was 93% among people who did not smoke and 83% among people who smoked.31 By 2009, support for making all playgrounds smokefree by law had increased, particularly among people who smoked (89%), and was 94% among people who did not smoke.26 Legislation banning smoking within 10 metres of children’s playgrounds was subsequently implemented in 2012.
Results from the South Australian Health Omnibus Survey in 2007 also demonstrated very high support for smokefree playgrounds: 85% supported a total ban on smoking at children’s playgrounds, 11% supported smokefree areas, and only 4% supported no restrictions (Figure 15.2.2).23
A 2015 study examined public approval of South Australia's legislation banning smoking in children's playgrounds, both before and after its implementation. The amended Tobacco Products Regulation Act 2007, which came into effect in 2013, prohibited smoking within 10 metres of outdoor playground equipment. Public approval was already high before the legislation in 2005 (94.8%) and increased even further after its implementation in 2013, reaching 97.8%.34
15.2.2.2 Support for smoking restrictions in other outdoor areas
Support has also grown over time for restrictions on smoking in other outdoor areas where people may be exposed to fairly high concentrations of tobacco smoke.
The South Australian Health Omnibus Survey found that more than 80% of South Australians would support either a total ban on smoking, or the inclusion of smokefree areas in outdoor dining areas, entertainment venues and sporting grounds (Figure 15.2.2). Support was lower (but still given by the majority) for a total ban, or for smokefree areas, in outdoor areas at pubs and at beaches.
Smokefree areas for fixed seating in sporting venues has been popular for some time.35 Over three-quarters (76.6%) of New South Wales adults surveyed in 2004 supported a ban on smoking in sporting stadiums.33 In 2009, a survey conducted by the Cancer Institute NSW showed support for smokefree sports stadiums had increased to 86%.26 Of New South Wales adults surveyed in 2004 over half of adults (55.5%) supported a ban on smoking at beaches.33 In 2009, a public opinion survey conducted by the Cancer Institute NSW revealed an increase in support for making beaches smokefree (74%).26
The New South Wales Health Survey revealed that in 2008, 40.6% of adults would be more likely to frequent outdoor dining areas if there was a total ban on smoking. More than half of New South Wales adults (54%) said a total ban on smoking in outdoor dining areas would make no difference to their patronage of these areas, while 45.4% would be less likely to frequent outdoor dining areas if there was a total ban on smoking.27 In New South Wales between 2006 and 2008, the proportion of adults who would be more likely to frequent outdoor dining areas if there was a total ban on smoking increased from 38.2% to 40.6%. The increase was significant in females and for urban health areas. There was no significant change in the proportion of adults who would be less likely to frequent outdoor dining areas if there was a total ban on smoking.27 Smokefree legislation for restaurants with outdoor food services was implemented in 2010 in NSW.
The 2021 NSW Smoking and Health Surveys measuring tobacco-related knowledge, attitudes and behaviours among NSW adults 18 years and over asked about support for potential locations to be made smokefree by law.36 The survey found that the majority of people who did not smoke were in support of all suggested locations to become smoke-free by law. Those who smoke were least supportive of ‘balconies of apartment blocks and multi-dwelling residential buildings’ (23%), ‘pubs, clubs, and bars’ (35%), and ‘private gaming areas at casinos’ (43%) becoming smokefree. While the majority of people who smoked were in support of ‘open or outdoor public shopping malls’ (75%), ‘beaches’ (61%), and ‘outdoor workplaces’ (54%) becoming smokefree by law.36
The Cancer Council Victoria survey of Victorian adults in 2009 found that 71% of respondents supported smoking bans at outdoor restaurant dining areas, 84% supported bans within hospital grounds, and 63% supported bans at beaches.30
In 2020, the City of Melbourne began drafting a discussion paper titled ‘Towards Smoke-free Melbourne 2025 policy’ to create additional smokefree zones in the CBD. Public consultation conducted over November 2020 – April 2021 showed 77% of participants were in support of the policy vision. When asked "What areas in the central city would you like to see become smoke-free in the future?" the top answers included: ‘Main entry points to transport hubs’; ‘Shopping strips’; ‘Footpaths on main streets’; and ‘Events in the city’.37
See Section 15.7.10, Table 15.7.1 for an up-to-date summary of smokefree legislation across Australian states and territories.
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References
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