Leave smokers alone say Rotorua bars | Rotorua News | Local News in Rotorua

Banning smoking outside bars and restaurants will result in "garage bars" popping up in suburbs and fewer people heading out on the town, say Rotorua restaurant and bar owners.

Recent research suggests extending smokefree areas outside bars and restaurants could help curb social smoking but Rotorua bar and restaurant owners say it's "dictatorial".

They also say it's not their job to police smokers and any such ban will force punters away altogether.

A study undertaken by University of Canterbury and Massey University researchers found social smokers rationalised and justified their smoking as something which occurred only because they were drinking.

Lead author Prof Janet Hoek said being smokefree outside bars "could reduce social smoking by removing cues that stimulate this behaviour".

Mitchell Downs Tavern owner Glen Climo said banning smoking from garden bars or outside bars and restaurants would hit business although he admitted smoking outside wasn't a "good look".

However, you couldn't control people's lives, Mr Climo said.

"It's a bit dictatorial telling people what they can and can't do."

Triple 1 Five owner John Knight said such a move would result in people setting up their own bars, like many smokers had done in Auckland since smoking was banned in hotels and restaurants in 2004. "We'll see garage bars popping up around town," he said. Such a move would be impossible to police, Mr Knight said.

His restaurant is on Eat Streat, where bars, cafes and restaurants take up most of the block.

Pushing smokers away would be difficult, especially when it rained, Mr Knight said.

"Pushing them out from the veranda into the rain ... will we end up having to pay for them to see a doctor when they get flu? It's a little over the top," he said.

Kiwi Spirit Bar owner Ross Swenson said patrons were already staying at home to drink because of smoking laws and any moves to stop those who did head out on the town would result in less business.

"It's their life. I can't control their lives and neither should I be. If they want to smoke themselves to death, that's their problem," he said. "Everybody is just getting too PC [politically correct] these days."

Smoking was banned in bars, restaurants and government buildings in 2004. Lake District Health Board sites went smokefree in December 2004 and in 2008 councils banned smoking on public reserves and playgrounds.

Meanwhile, a few people have left messages on The Daily Post Facebook site critical of the smokefree extension.

A social smoker posted: "No regrets here. They should ban it completely [which we all know they won't] or shuddup, because this pussy footing around is getting boring."