Cafe fined for allowing smoking

Popular Wellington cafe Fidel's has been fined $600 for allowing smoking on-site.

The Cuba St cafe was convicted and fined in Wellington District Court yesterday after it plead guilty to one charge under the Smokefree Environments Amendment Act, the Dominion Post reported.

The cafe's smoking area at the rear of the cafe did not comply with new smoking laws because it was not open, the Health Ministry said.

Co-owner Roger Young said the rules were difficult to interpret.

"We're living in a police state. You can't do anything any more."

Smokefree enforcement officers from Regional Public Health contacted the cafe after a complaint.

The area has since been changed to comply with the law.

- NZPA