Non-compliance with Western Australian smoke-free legislation: a complete ban  on smoking in hospitality settings is needed

Patterson, William J; Daube, Michael M; Hall, Stephen L G; Moronova, Denitza

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2007.tb01287.x

Topics

To the Editor: The introduction of indoor smoking restrictions in Western Australian pubs, clubs and nightclubs1 has been championed as a public health success and an advance in tobacco control. But how well is it being observed, and is the current legislation adequate?

1 Australian Medical Association (Western Australia), Perth, WA.
2 Curtin University of Technology, Perth, WA.
3 Australian Council on Smoking and Health, Perth, WA.
4 University of Western Australia, Perth, WA.

Correspondence: will.patterson@amawa.com.au

1. Western Australia. Tobacco Products Control Act 2006. http://www.slp.wa.gov.au/statutes/swans.nsf/5d62daee56e9e4b348256ebd0012c422/6afc 657a7ee388f8482571540025df99/$FILE/Tobacco %20Products%20Control%20Act%202006.PDF (accessed Aug 2007).
2. Government of Western Australia Drug and Alcohol Office. ASSAD smoking report 2005. A research report. April 2007. TNS Social Research Job No. 70409. http://www.dao.health.wa.gov.au/Publica tions/tabid/99/DMXModule/427/Default.aspx? EntryId=695 (accessed Aug 2007).
3. de Vries H, Engels R, Kremers S, et al. Parents’ and friends’ smoking status as predictors of smoking onset: findings from six European countries. Health Educ Res 2003; 18: 627-636.
4. Trotter L, Wakefield M, Borland R. Socially cued smoking in bars, nightclubs, and gaming venues: a case for introducing smoke-free policies. Tob Control 2002; 11: 300-304.
5. Koh HK, Joossens LX, Connolly GN. Making smoking history worldwide. N Engl J Med 2007; 356: 1496-1498.

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