Opening up for smokers

By Sarah Schwager
CASEY bars and pubs are acting quickly to accommodate shunned smokers as new smoking bans came into force on Sunday.
While many patrons and staff at local pubs celebrated the end of cigarette fumes from indoors, pub owners have been busy making their venues ready for the new outdoor trend.
Castello’s Hotel in Berwick has made changes to its set-up to accommodate smokers while several other pubs have followed suit.
Trios Tabaret at the Cranbourne Racecourse is one of the first to build an outdoor space for smokers in time for the tough new smoking bans for licensed venues, which came into effect across Victoria on 1 July.
The smoking laws mean those who flout the ban risk a $110 on-the-spot fine.
Trios Tabaret manager Brian Asley said the entertainment venue had decided to act early and had its smoking rooms up and running last week.
He said the feature outdoor area met regulations with at least 25 per cent of the space open and with the option to further open up three roller doors.
Features include gas heating, plasma televisions, LCD televisions, outdoor furniture, tea and coffee facilities, views and full liquor licence.
“It is built in such a way that it will attract people in warmer months as well,” Mr Asley said.
He was estimating an increase in smoking patrons at the venue, touting its smoking rooms as the best in the area.
Mr Asley said most patrons and staff were pleased with the legislation.
“Coming home with smelly clothes, and all the cleaning, especially of ashtrays, it’s not a good thing,” he said.
“A lot of people have said they will stop smoking as soon as the bans come in. For a lot of them it’s just too hard.”
Hampton Park Tavern has also been busy preparing for smokers.
Manager Sherrie Polglase said the bans had not affected the pub at all as they were prepared, with three outdoors areas just getting finished at the moment and due to be completed in the next couple of weeks.
“I think it’s important to have smoking areas,” Ms Polglase said, “otherwise they’ll go elsewhere.”
She said generally everybody was happy about the non-smoking indoors.
“It’s just the cleaning. It’s just lovely to clean the front of TVs and the glass and have no nicotine on them.
“I’m a smoker and so it never bothered me but it’s not nice for our staff and our other patrons.”
Ms Polglase said while most areas of the tavern would be fine she did not know how the bans would affect the public bar.
“We still have to test the big nights. It will be interesting when a big football game on.
“But there is a smoking room right next to it so hopefully people can see through the glass,” she said.
Local pubs will have their first big test this weekend to see whether the new bans turn away smokers during the chilly months and how to deal with any smokers flouting the bans.