Cigarette machines may be outlawed

By STAFF REPORTERS

Feeding coins into a vending machine to buy cigarettes would become a thing of the past under a proposed law aimed at stubbing out youth smoking.

Amendments to the new law, due to be spelled out next week, would ban self-service vending machines and force pubs and clubs to move the machines behind the bar or counter or scrap them altogether.

The move, in combination with requiring buyers to have an ID card to prove they are over 18, is part of an amendment to a law which will also tighten smoking rules in restaurants and bars. But it has drawn criticism from the major vending machine operator, British and American Tobacco (NZ), which predicts that 98 per cent of the 1800 vending machines around the country would have to be moved or altered to fit in with the law change.

Spokesman John Galligan said BAT would bear the cost of any changes, but they could inconvenience retailers. The technology was available to have vending machines operated from tills, but it was expensive.

Many outlets might opt for across-the-counter sales and scrap machines altogether, leading to increased staff costs and delays for customers.

It was also difficult to see how the costs of the change were justified, given that most cigarette vending machines were in licensed premises, such as casinos and pubs, where young people were not allowed.

"I think it is a bit of a nonsense to screw down vending as a major factor for youth access, given the nature of vending is that it is in areas where youth doesn't have access anyway," Mr Galligan said.

Labour MP Judy Keall, who is sponsoring the Smoke-Free Environments (Enhanced Protection) Amendment Bill, said the yet-to-be-released changes would probably be attached to the bill in her name.

She said retailers liked vending machines because they provided security from shoplifting and pilfering.

There were no plans to get rid of vending machines altogether, but the law would look at "repositioning them."

The Labour and Alliance caucuses will discuss the proposals soon. The Alliance, in particular, is concerned about the impact restrictions on smoking in bars and restaurants might have among its blue-collar support base.

The health select committee, which is hearing submissions on the bill, has extended the deadline to July 2 to allow for submissions on the amendments.

Mrs Keall chairs the committee.

One Auckland restaurateur who tried to enforce a strict smoking ban has been forced to relent because patrons were fleeing to rival establishments.

Tribeca Bar and Restaurant in Parnell has had to set up a smoking zone to attract those who want to light up over a drink or a meal.

Owner Mark Walynetz, who has installed an extraction unit, is so against smoking that he pays bonuses to staff who kick the habit for at least 30 days, to discourage them from smelling of cigarettes.

Three have qualified so far, including one who quit a year ago.

Waitress Penny Karrothers is trying to qualify for a $100 bonus after cutting down from almost a pack of cigarettes a day to just a handful. She worked for years in a Sydney club where smoke levels were "pretty disgusting," and is glad to breathe clean air.

Tribeca's experience contradicts research commissioned by anti-smoking groups which suggests that bars and restaurants might attract more tourists if they banned smoking.

The campaigners, including Action on Smoking and Health, are trying to build support among MPs.

Research by Dr Ian Hodges and Dr Caroline Maskill on the potential impact on tourism states that New Zealand's tourist pulling power is unlikely to be affected if such prohibitions were introduced.

Their paper estimates that 75 per cent of the 1.7 million visitors to New Zealand each year are non-smokers, so it is likely that a majority "would have no objections to ... bars and restaurants going smoke-free."

The researchers say these measures would also reinforce the marketing images of New Zealand as a clean, fresh and natural place to visit.