11 December 2008
Smokers in the Canadian city of Victoria can no longer bring a pack of cigarettes into their city’s major sports arena let alone smoke one outside.
The city’s largest venue, the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre, has gone beyond anti-smoking legislation and is refusing entry to anyone found in possession of cigarettes.
But offending products will not be confiscated, said arena management. Instead, people will be given a choice. If they wish to enter, either leave the cigarettes in their car or throw them away.
The policy is for rock concerts only, according to a report in the city’s Times Colonist newspaper. Random security searches are already carried out, meaning about 15 per cent of patrons get stopped.
The new policy follows on from another hit against smokers when the arena banned in-out privileges in September. People used to be able to go outside into the parking lot or specified “smoking pens” for a quick puff during an event. They were then still allowed to bring their cigarettes into the arena.
Save-On’s move comes after a similar ban in September at General Motors Place, the main concert venue in Vancouver and home to its Canadian Football League team. Around 1,000 smokers would duck outside for a puff during a football game, said GM Place management.
Venues in the province of British Columbia are not legally bound to ban all smoking on their outside premises. But the provincial government toughened up its anti-smoking regulations in March, making them the most draconian in Canada.
Similar to the UK and the rest of Canada, smoking is banned in all public places. But the latest anti-smoking twist specifies a specific “buffer zone” around buildings which must be policed by owners and renters.
This no-smoking buffer is three metres around any doorway, open window and air-intake unit. Also, covered bus stops, even if open to the air, are no-smoking zones.
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