Smoking and vaping will be banned in more outdoor public spaces under proposed new laws, while smokers will be offered incentives to quit as the South Australian government seeks to cut down on tobacco use.
The state government said the proposed laws would extend smoking and vaping bans to areas near schools, shopping centres, beaches, buildings and sporting grounds.
Cigarette vending machines in licensed venues would be outlawed, and fines for selling or supplying tobacco to minors would be doubled.
A trial program in Adelaide's northern suburbs will also see smokers offered up to $150 in supermarket vouchers to quit.
The government-funded Incentive to Quit program — which will cost taxpayers $500,000 — will offer the vouchers to participants depending on how long they go without smoking or vaping.
The program is part of the state's five-year strategy to reduce the proportion of South Australian daily smokers, from 9.8 per cent in 2021 down to a target of 6 per cent in 2027.
The program started about six weeks ago and currently has 33 participants, including 61-year-old Watto Purrunna Aboriginal Health Clinic worker Adrian Coulthard.
"I've smoked for 40 years and of course you put the dollars together over the years I've smoked, it's quite a bit … I need to kick it," he said.
Mr Coulthard said he has experienced dental problems and reduced lung capacity as a result of his smoking, and tried other programs to quit without success.
He said the pilot program has helped him cut down from smoking up to 20 cigarettes a day to 10.
"It's a step in the right direction," he said.
Drug and Alcohol Services SA state director Marina Bowshall said the program will help reduce smoking and vaping in South Australia.
"Tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable illness and disease and a significant factor in the death of South Australians," she said.
Smoking and vaping to be banned at beaches, outside buildings
Under the state government's proposed laws, smoking and vaping would be banned within 10 metres of a school and childcare centre, and within 5 metres of a shopping centre or government or commercial building entrance.
Bans would also apply outside hospitals and aged care facilities.
Using a cigarette or vape at an outdoor public swimming pool, near an organised children's sporting event and at beaches would be prohibited.
The government said some sites already banned smoking in these areas, but the bans were not enforceable by law and often did not cover vaping.
Smoking has already been banned in outdoor dining areas, playgrounds and public transport shelters.
On-the-spot fines for providing children with tobacco would increase from $1,200 to $2,400, while the maximum court fine will increase from $5,000 to $10,000 for a first offence.
Maximum court fines for businesses would increase from $20,000 to $40,000.
Health Minister Chris Picton said the proposed measures were aimed at curbing vaping among young people and reducing the chance of inhaling a "plume" of second-hand smoke.
He said e-cigarette usage in people aged 15 to 29 had increased from 1.1 per cent in 2017 to 7.8 per cent in 2022.
"Some of those fines, particularly for selling to underage people, we believe need to be much higher … to send a clear message about selling cigarettes and vapes to young people [which] is absolutely prohibited," Mr Picton said.
Mr Picton said outlawing cigarette vending machines would reduce avenues for minors to purchase cigarettes.
"Sending a clear message to stop selling, to kids, those vape products is absolutely important," he said.
"These are one of a number of measures that we're looking at over the next few weeks of taking more action in relation to smoking and vaping in South Australia."
