Seven Mile Beach-goers Megan Jarvis, 17, left, and Charlotte Adams, 19, are both happy to hear that smoking is going to be banned on patrolled beaches. Picture: SAM ROSEWARNE
STARTING today, smoking is banned on Tasmanian public beaches where surf life savers are on patrol.
Smokers could face a $260 fine for lighting up between the flags on the 12 beaches around the state patrolled by Surf Life Saving Tasmania.
Department of Health and Human Services Environmental Health state manager Stuart Heggie said the initiative was part of the changes the Tasmanian Government passed in March this year aimed at protecting people from second-hand tobacco smoke.
"This is an example of groups within our community working together to combat smoking and to send a message to our young people that smoking is not acceptable where they play and have fun," Mr Heggie said.
The bans had been brought into force with the support of Surf Life Saving Tasmania, with its life savers able to advise people not to smoke between the flags.
Tobacco control officers, with the power to enforce fines, are set to begin patrolling beaches later in the summer.
Smoking has already been banned in all Tasmanian alfresco dining areas and in Salamanca Place.
Surf Life Saving Tasmania general manager Tony van den Enden welcomed the ban and said there were still areas of the beach where smokers were allowed to smoke.
"It increases people's enjoyment for those who don't smoke and provides an area where they can enjoy a smoke-free environment but at the same time it's not trying to reduce or take away from those who do smoke," he said.
Mr Heggie said he hoped providing smoke-free areas would make it easier for some people to successfully give up.
A 2006 NSW study showed 54 per cent of smokers who had tried to quit found that seeing someone smoking was a trigger to relapse; while 40 per cent said that smelling a cigarette was a trigger.
Smoking will be banned between the flags at Boat Harbour, Bridport, Burnie, Carlton Park, Clifton Beach, Devonport, Kingston Beach, Penguin, Port Sorell, Scamander, Somerset and Ulverstone.
emma.hope@news.com.au
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