The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: Indoor workplaces in New Zealand were required to be smokefree from 10 December 2004. The smokefree provisions apply to all indoor workplaces, including bars, restaurants, clubs and casinos. This presentation looks at the economic and social impact of the smokefree legislation, twelve months on.

Methods: Public opinion surveys, retail and hospitality trade figures, employment statistics, and smoking behaviours and attitudes were analyzed for the period before and one year following the implementation of smokefree workplaces.

Results: • Increased calls to the Quitline suggest that many people were prompted to quit smoking • There is strong public support for smokefree bars and restaurants, with 67 percent now supporting a complete ban on smoking in bars and pubs compared to only 38 percent in 2001; and 80 percent supporting a complete ban in restaurants. • Contrary to concerns expressed by opponents to the legislation, smokefree hospitality venues have not resulted in an overall loss of profits and have not affected employment or tourism numbers. • Compliance with the legislation is high, with 97 percent of bars and taverns complying. • Patronage of bars and cafés by non-smokers has increased noticeably between 2003 and 2005. • Socially-cued smoking in nightclubs, bars, casinos and cafés has decreased markedly between 2003 and 2005 • The quantity of tobacco and cigarettes released for sale has showed no further decline following the enactment of the legislation. However, the amount of tobacco and cigarettes sold by supermarkets has declined.