SA smoking bans get final approval

The South Australian Parliament has given final approval to a crackdown on smoking in licensed venues.

The state is now just weeks away from a new regime of smoking bans.The Government finally got its way in the Upper House late today and the smoking crackdown passed with a few amendments.One of them is Independent MP Nick Xenophon’s move for a trial rebate on nicotine patches.The first phase of the smoking restrictions includes bans on smoking within a metre of a bar front but the total ban in licensed venues will not take effect for another three years.The Government has agreed to all the amendments and says the first phase of the bans will begin within weeks.(Source: ABC Health, Oct 2004)