Tobacco vending machines in Queensland pubs and clubs are either "anonymous, drab units" or potential contributors to smoking relapse, a state parliamentary inquiry has been told.
Purchases from the machines account for a tiny fraction of total tobacco sales, but a state government proposal to limit access has prompted calls to go further with reform, as well as calls to back off.
Under a bill tabled by the state government last month, venue staff would have to retrieve cigarettes from a vending machine housed in an area not accessible by patrons.
The ACT bans vending machines entirely, Tasmania has a similar restriction and tobacco vending machines in NSW and South Australia must have a staff intervention mechanism.
There's evidence to suggest the presence of vending machines can trigger unplanned purchases of tobacco and undermine attempts to quit, committee members were told on Friday.
"A prohibition on vending machines will help to further de-normalise the use of smoking products and eliminate a strong visual cue which has the potential to trigger smoking relapse," Cancer Council senior manager Sharyn Chin Fat said.
A ban was supported by a number of health groups appearing at Friday's hearing, but there was significant pushback from the hospitality industry.
About 0.3 per cent of tobacco sales occur in pubs and clubs, Queensland Hotels Association chief executive Bernie Hogan said.
Mr Hogan disagreed with suggestions vending machines can trigger recent quitters to relapse or encourage people to take up smoking.
"Vending machines are not advertisements or promotions by their mere presence. They are anonymous drab units which are without any promotional signage," he said.
"If somebody did approach a vending machine, the only sign that they would see is a quit smoking sign."
There were about 800 tobacco vending machines in licensed venues across the state, but their contribution to a pub's bottom line differed considerably, Mr Hogan said.
"When you say ... it's such a small amount, when you're talking about a business that is running on a margin of less than one per cent for a regional pub, anything you take out that ... puts it on a knife edge," he said.
Later on Friday, Queensland Health executive director Mark West said vending machines offered ease of access to tobacco, which could influence relapse and increased consumption among social smokers.
"Given the strong association between alcohol and tobacco consumption, the presence of the machines in liquor licensed premises only exacerbates these risks," he said.
If passed, the vending machine changes would not take effect until September 2024 to give venues time to adjust.
