Smokers about to take the last puff

It will be last call for smokers in pubs and bars across New Zealand at midnight tonight when new anti-smoking laws take effect.

Tomorrow it will be against the law to smoke in licensed premises and workplaces.

While bar owners are likely to request smokers to stub out, don't expect to see anti-smoking police out in force tonight.

Talk of a rebellion by some employers has also been played down, with Restaurant Association chief executive Bruce Robertson saying most had accepted the legislation.

"Looking at the overseas experience has shown us that those operators which defy the legislation tend to lose more business than those who try to make it work," he said.

Under the law, individual owners and companies who "fail to take all reasonably practicable steps" to prevent workplace smoking face a fine of up to $4000.

However, with no fine for smokers who defy the law, pub owners are warning the legislation will cause problems.

"The public now know they can flout the law and escape any penalty," said Tony Martin, owner of Herne Bay's Gables pub. "We are left in the position of warning people and then banning them from the bar."

Smoking will be allowed only in "open spaces" such as gardens or uncovered decks.

From midnight smokefree officers gain some limited powers to enter and inspect premises at a reasonable time, take photographs, inspect advertising or display material, and require some identification.

There is a fine of up to $1000 for obstructing an enforcement officer or failing to provide the information required.

The law's promoter, MP Steve Chadwick, said she was "very proud" of the legislation.

"This is about societal change. It's a big mindset shift," she said.

The new law would save lives, she said.

One problem could be cigarette butts on footpaths and in gutters as workers or bar patrons go outside for a smoke.

"I think it is one of the realities that people will go outside and have a cigarette so those facilities need to be looking at good, big ashtrays outside," she said.

Auckland businessman John Triggs thinks he might have a solution to that problem.

He and two others have formed a company called Environmental Innovations to provide tools and programmes to cope with the butt problem.

Each year it was estimated about 800 million butts were thrown away, and the new law could increase that number, said Mr Triggs.

The butts took 12 years to break down and contained "all sorts of poisons".

* The Ministry of Health has launched an information phoneline on the new smokefree law. The number is 0508 SMOKEFREE (0508 766 533).

Additional reporting, NZPA