New smoking laws have unexpected effect

Meals, not smokes, are being banned in outdoor dining areas across Melbourne as restaurants work to keep their smoking customers happy.

Under new rules introduced today, smoking is banned in outdoor areas where meals are being served.

There’s a four-metre exclusion zone.

Yarni from Nikos Cakes in the Eaton Mall said they’d lose business if they didn’t let people smoke outside.

“A large portion of our clientele is just simply coffee drinkers who do wish to have a cigarette,” he said.