There are no butts about it

CASEY residents will now have to butt out.
New State Government tobacco laws came into force last Wednesday as part of the Bracks Government’s commitment to further reduce the health threat posed by smoking.
Casey mayor Kevin Bradford said tobacco was the cause of almost 5000 deaths in the state each year and costs the Victorian community over $5 billion annually in health care and social costs.
“For families affected by the death or illness of loved ones, the despair is even greater because it is preventable,” he said.
Cr Bradford said as a smoker he appreciated first hand how difficult it was to quit but said it was something he was going to strive to achieve.
From March 1 new laws will:
* Ensure enclosed workplaces are smoke-free (exemptions apply).
* Prohibit smoking, the promotion of tobacco products and the sale of tobacco products at underage “music/dance” events.
* Ensure covered areas of train station platforms, trams shelters and bus shelters are smoke-free.
* Prohibit “buzz marketing” and non-branded tobacco advertising.
* Strengthen laws to enforce the ban on cigarette sales to minors.
Cr Bradford said over the past four years Victorians had embraced tobacco reforms, which have, in turn, produced sustained declines in both adult and youth smoking rates in Victoria.
He said the new laws would further protect Victorians from the harms caused by passive smoking and smoking in the workplace.
Around 30 per cent of Victorian workers continuing to be exposed to passive smoking at work,’’ he said.
From 1 July 2007 enclosed licensed premises will also be smoke-free.
“The new laws will prohibit smoking in most enclosed workplaces. Studies have found that smoking bans in enclosed areas not only protect workers from exposure to passive smoke, but they also result in decreases in smoking rates.
“Protecting young people from preventable harm is a high priority. Access to cigarettes is a very important factor in young people taking up smoking with 80 per cent of smokers beginning before their 18th birthday.
“Under the new laws, Victoria’s current tobacco legislation restricting the supply of tobacco products to young people will be strengthened.”