The Smoke-free Environment Act 2000 makes a number of outdoor public places smoke-free. Smoking is banned within 4 metres of a pedestrian entrance to or exit from a public building in NSW. This law is called the ‘4 metre law’.
The ‘4 metre law’ was delayed for licensed premises and restaurants until 6 July 2015. This delay was allowed to support consistent application of the smoking ban on commercial outdoor dining areas from 6 July 2015.
The smoke-free laws also apply to the use of e-cigarettes (vaping).
Smoking is already banned in enclosed areas of public places in NSW. The law extends the smoking ban to cover the area within 4 metres of a pedestrian entrance to or exit from a public building, such as:
Buildings used only for residential purposes such as private houses or multi-unit residential accommodation (such as boarding houses, buildings in caravan parks and residential accommodation in community or strata schemes) are not covered by the ‘4 metre law’.
Buildings that have multiple uses, such as residential and commercial purposes, will be subject to the ‘4 metre law’ only at those entrances and exits which are used for non-residential purposes.
The law does not require signs to be displayed to indicate that smoking is not permitted within 4 metres of a pedestrian entrance to or exit from a public building. This is due to the diverse range of public buildings that are captured under the law. The law allows NSW Health to work with Local Councils and other Government departments to develop signage appropriate to the different public buildings. ‘No smoking’ signage is strongly encouraged to support public awareness of the smoking ban.
NSW Health Authorised Inspectors can enforce the ban within 4 metres of an entrance to or exit from a public building under the Smoke-free Environment Act 2000. On the spot fines of $300 may apply to individuals who do not comply with the ‘4 metre law’, including at hospitality venues from 6 July 2015.
The number of people who gather just outside the entrances of buildings can be significant. This has the effect of forcing people entering and leaving those buildings to walk through groups of smokers, exposing them to second-hand smoke. Also, smoke
drift can easily occur from outside buildings to the indoor areas.
There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke. This is the smoke which smokers exhale after inhaling from a lit cigarette and the smoke emitted from a burning cigarette. In adults, breathing second-hand tobacco smoke can increase the risk of heart disease, lung cancer and other lung diseases. It can worsen the effects of other illnesses such as asthma and bronchitis. Exposing ex-smokers to other people’s tobacco smoke increases the chance of relapsing to smoking.
For children, inhaling second-hand tobacco smoke is even more dangerous. This is because children’s airways are smaller, and their immune systems are less developed. These differences make children more likely to suffer health problems due to second-hand smoke such as bronchitis, pneumonia and asthma.
Creating smoke-free outdoor areas, such as smoke-free entrances and exits from public buildings, supports those who have quit and makes smoking less visible to children and young people.
Many NSW councils, under the provisions of the Local Government Act 1993, have introduced their own smoking bans. Where these bans are in place, they can continue to be enforced by Local Council rangers.
Note: This fact sheet provides general guidance on complying with the Smoke-free Environment Act 2000. Please refer to the exact wording of the Act and associated regulations concerning points of law.
Please contact the Tobacco Information Line on 1800 357 412 or visit the Tobacco and Smoking Control in NSW website. The Tobacco Information Line can be accessed by non-English speaking people via the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 13 14 50.
