AMA urges public to patronise only smokefree venues
On World No Tobacco Day 2001, the Australian Medical Association has urged the public to patronise only the restaurants, pubs and clubs which go totally smokefree.
AMA Federal Vice-President, Dr Trevor Mudge, said there was now widespread community support for smokefree venues.
"Eighty-five per cent of Australians want smoking banned in all workplaces and all shopping centres, 77 per cent want smoking banned in restaurants and cafes, according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.
"Scientific evidence shows clearly that breathing air polluted by tobacco smoke can increase your chances of contracting bronchitis, pneumonia and emphysema, developing lung cancer, suffering asthma attacks, as well as cardiovascular disease.
"Look at the effects of passive smoking on your chances of developing cancer. If you're working behind a bar, breathing in other people's tobacco smoke, you are, in effect, risking your life," Dr Mudge said.
"Tobacco is the number one killer in our country. Legislation outlawing smoking in all public places is the policy goal we must pursue. Simply separating smokers from non-smokers within the same air space may reduce, but does not eliminate, the exposure of non-smokers to environmental tobacco smoke.
"The AMA will continue to actively lobby governments to increase taxes on cigarettes to discourage users and generate greater revenue for anti-tobacco campaigns. And we want more funding for hard hitting research on why children and youth are turning to tobacco and other drugs in such great numbers," he said.
CONTACT: Sarah Bucknell (02) 6270 5472 / (0419) 440 076