Patrons’ views about smoking in outdoor areas of licensed premises in Adelaide, South Australia: A pilot study

September 2014
Citation: 
Roche, A.M., Fischer, J., McCarthy, C., & Trifonoff, A. (2014). Patrons’ views about smoking in outdoor areas of licensed premises in Adelaide, South Australia: A pilot study. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health.

This pilot study reports on the views of patrons regarding smoke-free outdoor areas in licensed premises. An intercept survey was conducted to assess whether patrons of hotels and restaurants across metropolitan Adelaide, SA supported smoking restrictions in the outdoor areas of licensed premises. Participants responded to four attitudinal questions:

  • do you think outdoor areas in licensed premises should be smoke-free?
  • when you are in an outdoor eating area, how do you feel about people smoking around you?
  • when you are in an outdoor drinking area, how do you feel about people smoking around you?
  • if you knew that a venue has a smoke-free outdoor eating and drinking area, would you be more or less likely to go there?

The survey found there was strong patron support, even among current smokers, for smoking restrictions in outdoor areas of licensed premises reflecting the expanding body of research that highlights a shift in community views about smoking in public places and greater expectations that smoke-free areas will be readily available, especially where food is consumed.