Along with banning smoking in al fresco dining areas, the ban also extends to within four metres of entry and exits to pubs, clubs, cafes and restaurants.

Kelly’s Rugby Hotel publican Bill Kelly said about a third of patrons at his Lords Place hotel were smokers and would be affected by the changes.

“The main impact it will have on us will be the outdoor dining area, which we have on the balcony upstairs. When food is served people who previously smoked up there will no longer be able to do that,” he said.

“There was quite a few [smoking diners], not so much in the winter months, but certainly in the warmer months.

“[Another] main issue we have here will be people coming here and smoking on the footpath. People will have to be very aware of what they are doing.”

Mr Kelly said there was a designated smoking area downstairs and new signage had been installed telling people where they could smoke, but the footpath had been a popular place to smoke.

“On busy nights it’s much easier for patrons to just walk out the front. We had smoking bins, [but] the bins have gone now so cigarette butts will be a big [issue] for us in the future,” he said.

Although the smoking ban means some people will have to change their habits, Mr Kelly says there has been plenty of notice and signage available and his patrons have adjusted to previous law changes.

Bensons Cafe owner Taylor Zarnow said smoking had already been prohibited at the outdoor tables in front of her Summer Street cafe.

However, she said the new rules could still benefit her customers and encourage more people to dine outside in fine weather.

“I think it will be good, it will encourage more people to eat in our outdoor area,” she said.

“We do have people who won’t sit outside if people are smoking.”

tanya.marschke@fairfaxmedia.com.au