Smokefree plan gathers support
The Waipa¯ mayor believes he has the numbers to declare the district’s public places smokefree within the next couple of months.
But defining smokefree areas and what penalties people might face still needs to be calculated when the Waipa¯ District Council resumes in February.
Banning vaping in public places is also on the cards.
Mayor Jim Mylchreest said he did not want to police a smokefree bylaw on every public road around the district.
‘‘The trick to this is defining those areas we want to be smokefree. It is those places where people congregate, like sports parks, playgrounds, restaurants and cafes.’’
Mylchreest said the smokefree movement had been prompted by the Waikato District Health Board. The Government had also set a goal to make New Zealand smokefree by 2025. ‘‘It has also been brought on by the outside dining phenomenon we have got now – people sitting outside eating or having a coffee do not want to get smoke in their faces.’’
Mylchreest said enlisting smokefree wardens to enforce a bylaw would be ‘‘the last absolute resort’’.
‘‘We will use signage to define smokefree areas and what we hope is that this will give people a social licence to say: smoking is not accepted here.’’
Waipā District Council offices are already smokefree. Mylchreest said he had never smoked but understood how difficult it was for people to give up.
‘‘But if this [smokefree areas] puts people off starting to smoke, it is definitely something we need to focus on, for longterm health benefits and for their financial interests too.’’
Mylchreest said vaping could also be included in a smokefree bylaw.
‘‘We need to be careful how we define it so we are not counter-productive. People can use vaping to get off cigarettes, that is fine. But if it becomes another habit, it is not a heck of a lot better for smokers.’’
Public response
An online poll published by the council showed most people supported smokefree public places.
Long-time smoker and retiree Bob Davis, from Te Awamutu, also supported the move.
He was just in the throes of rolling up a tobacco cigarette to enjoy while sitting in a public area outside the council chambers in Te Awamutu. It is a favourite gathering place for people from neighbouring businesses to come and have a cigarette during their break.
‘‘A lot of people pop over here and have a quick fag. Having a smoke just calms you down and sort of soothes you, then you are ready to get back to work.’’
Davis understood he would have to move on if the area was declared smokefree.
‘‘If I smoke in a public place, I always ask people if they mind. If they do not like it, I just move away because I respect the wishes of other people.
‘‘My neighbours do not smoke so when I go to visit them, I do not even take my smokes.’’
Davis said he spent about $68 a week on his tobacco. He knows it is a lot but said he had cut down on smoking over the years.
‘‘I have gone from smoking about 50 grams to 30 a week. I used to be a big smoker about 50 years ago. ‘‘My brotherin-law used to smoke these thin cigars. ‘‘He said: here, try this. And that is when it started.’’
Davis said he did not smoke when he was walking down the main street of Te Awamutu or around large groups of people, families and children.
‘‘Smokefree won’t upset me at all. In fact what I think it will do, is stop all those people scraping cigarette butts off the footpaths down town, collecting them for a smoke – that is disgusting.’’
‘‘If I smoke in a public place, I always ask people if they mind. If they do not like it, I just move away.’’
Bob Davis
Can’t quit
Another smoker, who did not want to be named, said she thought there needed to be a balance when it came to declaring public places smokefree.
‘‘I think it is a really good idea but there should be areas outside pubs and clubs where you can smoke.
‘‘People should be able to make their own decisions. Most smokers won’t smoke around children, families already; they are polite about it. It should be your right to choose where to smoke.’’
The 24-year-old woman, who was taking a quick smoke break behind shops in Te Awamutu, said the high number of fast-food outlets in town was inflicting as much health damage on people as cigarettes.
‘‘But there does not seem to be any rules restricting fast food in town.’’
She had been smoking for about 10 years and had tried various avenues to quit. ‘‘I have tried patches, gum, going cold turkey. I quit while I was pregnant but then started again after I had my children.
‘‘I know it is bad for me but it is an addiction, I can’t stop.’’
Vape alternative
Serdaris Cobb, who works at the Vice Vape Co in Te Awamutu, said he did not think going smokefree, or vape-free, would decrease the number of customers walking through the door of the business.
‘‘But it is a good idea because there is a time and place for everything.’’
He did not think people should exhaust large clouds of vape around people trying to eat or enjoy time with their families at public places.
‘‘If it is a big device, it can create a lot of vape. I am not saying you should have designated areas because that could backfire. But out of sight, out of mind.’’