Shopping centres allowing smoking at entrances

[ufo_investigations]

We all know what the effects of passive smoking are and yet in 2013 you can't access any major shopping centre entrance without passing through cigarette smoke.

Today, at a major shopping centre in Melbourne we endured cigarette smoke whilst entering and leaving the complex. A cigarette tray was affixed next to a doorway (supplied by the shopping centre). This was 1 metre away from a doorway and 1 metre away from a pedestrian zebra crossing which leads to the entrance. How ridiculous is this?  Young children, pregnant women and elderly use the crossing to enter the complex including my wife and I. Shopping centres are private property and they can ban smoking on their land if they want to but they have not. Why not?

50 metres away there was a childrens playground with smoking permitted on the fenceline. How ridiculous is this?

The sign read "No smoking within 5 metres".   Which means smoking is permitted as much you like after 5 metres. Guess what? The fenceline of the playground is after the 5 metres. Silly or what?

Next time you visit your shopping centre please observe these silly ashtrays next to doorways and make yourself heard. I have reported this to centre management and will continue to do so until it is changed. Please do the same.

[nevynreally]

But, no solution to the overpowering perfume thing.

[cherry*135]

Overpowering perfume is a separate issue? How many people does it affect? I can't stand cigarette smoke. People walking by with a lot of perfume on doesn't bother me (Cheap body/deodarant spray, sprayed in my vicinity does affect me).

The opening post specifically mentions smoking at shopping centres, so I guess that is what most peoples comments are focused on.

There are laws for where you can smoke or not (extended ones introduced in NSW, beg Jan 2013), there aren't  any laws saying you can't wear perfume in public. Do you think it would ever be likely that there will be laws for that one day?

[cherry*135]

These are the NSW laws for smoke free outdoor areas. Do they differ much from other states?

As of 7 January 2013, changes to legislation on smoke-free outdoor areas came into effect across NSW.

These changes are a key strategy in reducing community exposure to second-hand smoke, tobacco-related harm and the uptake of smoking.

The smoke-free areas were chosen as they are public outdoor places popular with children and families, or which can be crowded, or at which there is limited opportunity to avoid second-hand smoke.

Smoking is now banned in the following outdoor places:

• Within 10 metres of children’s play equipment in outdoor public spaces;
• Spectator areas at sports grounds or other recreational areas; 
• Swimming pool complexes;
• Railway platforms, light rail stops, light rail stations, bus stops, taxi ranks and ferry wharves;
• Within four metres of a pedestrian access point to a public building.

There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke, the smoke which smokers exhale after inhaling from a lit cigarette. In adults, breathing second-hand tobacco smoke can heighten the risk of cardiovascular disease and lung cancer and worsen the effects of other illnesses such as bronchitis and asthma.

Evidence shows that exposing ex-smokers to other people’s tobacco smoke increases the chance of them relapsing to smoking. 

Inhaling second-hand tobacco smoke is even more dangerous for children, as their airways are smaller and their immune systems less developed, which makes them more susceptible to the negative health effects of second-hand tobacco smoke. 

There is emerging evidence that under some circumstances, tobacco smoke affects the air quality of outdoor locations just as much as indoor locations. 

These new requirements are enforceable by law. The ban on smoking within four metres of a pedestrian entrance to or exit from a public building will be delayed for licensed premises and restaurants until 6 July 2015.

http://www.nsw.gov.au/news/new-laws-come-effect-smoke-free-outdoor-areas

[nevynreally]

Equal issues for me. Both affect me the same way. I was unaware that threads had to stick to the opening post, but am glad you've cleared that up for me.

[spotweldersfriend]

Lets hope so.Especially that cheap stuff you buy at Target or KMart at about 4 bucks a litre.Smells like that trough candy they deposit in men's urinals:-)

[cherry*135]

If people choose to comment on the topic in the opening post.. smoking in public areas.. you can't expect them to feel the need to discuss perfume introduced later...if they chose not to discuss it, their choice, if they don't, they shouldn't get harrased about it.

[cherry*135]

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@ufo_investigations wrote:

We all know what the effects of passive smoking are and yet in 2013 you can't access any major shopping centre entrance without passing through cigarette smoke.

Today, at a major shopping centre in Melbourne we endured cigarette smoke whilst entering and leaving the complex. A cigarette tray was affixed next to a doorway (supplied by the shopping centre). This was 1 metre away from a doorway and 1 metre away from a pedestrian zebra crossing which leads to the entrance. How ridiculous is this?  Young children, pregnant women and elderly use the crossing to enter the complex including my wife and I. Shopping centres are private property and they can ban smoking on their land if they want to but they have not. Why not?

50 metres away there was a childrens playground with smoking permitted on the fenceline. How ridiculous is this?

The sign read "No smoking within 5 metres".   Which means smoking is permitted as much you like after 5 metres. Guess what? The fenceline of the playground is after the 5 metres. Silly or what?

Next time you visit your shopping centre please observe these silly ashtrays next to doorways and make yourself heard. I have reported this to centre management and will continue to do so until it is changed. Please do the same.

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Pretty clear the OP is inviting a discussion about smoking in public areas isn't it?

[silverfaun]

If you can smell cigarette smoke that doesn't mean that there is enough smoke to bring on an attack its just the smellof it that most people now object to but its pretty harmless if you are outdoors.

Strong perfumes are another matter and can violently distress people and bring on allergies or other attacks that's why shop attendants are forbidden to spray any on you.

The sickening smell of some spray on deodorants is horrible but don't affect me just offend my sense of smell.

[nevynreally]

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@am*3 wrote:

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Pretty clear the OP is inviting a discussion about smoking in public areas isn't it?

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Yes. Thank you, will not deviate any further.

[the_hawk*]

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@silverfaun wrote:

If you can smell cigarette smoke that doesn't mean that there is enough smoke to bring on an attack its just the smellof it that most people now object to but its pretty harmless if you are outdoors.

Strong perfumes are another matter and can violently distress people and bring on allergies or other attacks that's why shop attendants are forbidden to spray any on you.

The sickening smell of some spray on deodorants is horrible but don't affect me just offend my sense of smell.

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It is not harmless out side at all, the smallest amount of smoke can bring on an attack, any thing from wheezing and coughing to a full on attack, clearly you don't suffer from asthma and have no idea of the reactions some can have to even small amounts of smoke.