News Release                              For Immediate Release

                                                                                                                         April 13, 2010

Smoke-Free Bar and Restaurant Patios

With the outdoor dining and patio season soon upon us, it is a good time to revisit the smoking rules in these locations. The Smoke-Free Ontario Act (Sec. 13, Reg. 48/06) prohibits smoking on covered or partially covered patios. The legislation is designed to protect the health of the public from second-hand smoke.

A patio becomes smoke-free when:

1)      The public is permitted access to the area, either expressly or by implication, whether or not a fee is charged for entry, or the area is worked in or frequented by employees during the course of their employment.

2)      Food or drink is served or sold in the area, or it is part of, or operated in conjunction with, an area where food or drink is served or sold.

3)      All or a portion of the patio is covered by a physical barrier of any size, whether temporary or permanent, that is capable of excluding or impeding airflow, or both.

Smoking may be allowed on a patio when the patio is NOT contiguous with or adjacent to another patio within the establishment that is smoke-free or the smoking patio must be separated by half a story from the smoke-free patio.

For more information, contact Public Health at 519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 or visit our website at www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca.

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For more information:

Alen Hawes

Tobacco Enforcement and Education Officer

Grey Bruce Health Unit

519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext. 1478