Cook Islands smoking loophole targeted

Transcript

Designated smoking areas in restaurants and bars are becoming common place in the Cook Islands despite a ban on smoking in public areas.

Under the 2007 Tobacco Control Act, smoking in any public place is illegal but specific smoking areas were permitted for a year after the Act came into force.

The Ministry of Health says many places still have areas for smokers and it is time to tighten up the law.

Daniela Maoate-Cox has more.

Just over a month ago the High Tide Bar and Grill on Rarotonga banned smoking throughout its premises. Its owner, Kelly Jones, says the decision was influenced by international standards expected by tourists.

KELLY JONES: A majority of places around the world are now smokefree so it's sort of common practice for them. Local response was also mixed, there were a few people that were definitely negative towards it but in saying that there was also quite a bit of positive feedback from customers as well that just prefer to eat and drink without second hand smoke around them.

Kelly Jones says the restaurant has since put in a designated smoking area away from diners and many other places are following suit. The Cook Islands Tourism Corporation's chief executive, Halatoa Fua, says it has looked at the effect of smoke-free restaurants and bars overseas and is positive the change will be received well by visitors.

HALATOA FUA: Some destinations where this has been rolled out, it has actually been a good thing, it has been a boost to their tourism industry because it shows you're promoting healthy living. There's also a lot of people that would like to have a smokefree area as well. It is promoting healthy sort of lifestyle that is avoiding passive smokers from inhaling smoke from others so I think it's going to be something that won't be an issue here in the Cook Islands.

But smoking in public places in the Cook Islands has been illegal since 2007 and banned in restaurants since 2008. A Ministry of Health spokesperson, Valentino Wichman, says there is a loophole that has been used to keep designated areas for smoking.

VALENTINO WICHMAN: When the act was transitioning, there was provision for restaurants to have designated areas for one year and then to completely have a ban but I think a lot of the interpretation has focused around that one year transition phase so now, we're making sure they know exactly what they have to do.

Valentino Wichman says tightening the laws will clear up any confusion.

VALENTINO WICHMAN: The plan is to draft a provision that says there'll be no smoking in interior public places but that there'll be designated areas. Where those designated areas will be needs further discussion though, a lot of the bars in the Cook Islands are sort of half open half closed so it's about trying to determine an area [that's] most appropriate.

Valentino Wichman says enforcing the law is difficult and the planned amendments will give officials more direction including training officers and establishing a monitoring system. Tighter controls on tobacco sales including licensing for retailers and a ban on manufacturing tobacco products in the Cook Islands will also be drafted. Mr Wichman says drafting the new law is a balancing act between public health and the rights of individuals and the opinions of smokers will be considered.