Smoke clouds surround Norton Street ciggie ban

It’s almost one month since the implementation of Leichhardt Council’s alfresco smoking ban, yet business owners are still confused and concerned.

A recent Cancer Council study showed eight out of ten people were in favour of the smoking ban in outdoor eating areas, confirming popularity of the move.

However the ramifications for businesses are unsettling some people due to a lack of clarity.

Despite assertions by the Council that smoking bans will attract more customers as the vast majority of New South Wales residents are non-smokers, it is the regulars and the morning coffee-and-cigarette crowd who are shunning their old haunts.

People working in cafés and restaurants fear that many customers may migrate to other areas close by that do not have similar bans.

Joe Napoliello of Sports Bar on Norton Street rated the threat to his business a modest ‘2 out of 10,’ reflecting the general sentiment on the street – a noticeable impact without being debilitating.

Like many people working in Leichhardt, Joe knew it was far too soon to be speculating on what the overall effect of the bans will be.

The major issues with the ban don’t stem from the economic impact as might be expected. For most people the major concern is how the new rules will be enforced.

Gaetano Stagnitta from Bar Italia still did not understand if fines would exclusively be issued to individuals or if shop owners would be targeted too.

He wasn’t the only one either, several other managers and owners on Norton Street did not realise the fines are directed solely to the individual.

Policing of the ban is also garnering dubious looks from café workers. One barista mentioned that he has been allowing customers to smoke on the street without any complications.

It appears that most customers are self-policing, which alongside the Council’s soft-touch approach illustrates how little resistance there is to the alfresco bans.

By Thomas Hellier