Designated Outdoor Smoking Area (DOSA)
(from 1 July 2006)
Under the new tobacco laws, liquor licensed premises that hold a general or club licence can designate an outdoor area where only smoking and drinking can occur. A number of rules must be followed and penalties will apply.
Rules for a DOSA
- You can have more than one DOSA at the premises, but the total area of all DOSAs must not be more than 50% of the whole outdoor liquor licensed area of the premises.
- Each DOSA must have a buffer on its perimeter, wherever it is next to other parts of your outdoor area that are ordinarily accessed by patrons.
- It is a legal requirement that the entire remaining outdoor licensed area is no-smoking. As a licensee it is your responsibility to ensure that patrons do not smoke in these areas of the premises.
- You must prepare and keep up-to-date a Smoking Management Plan for the entire premises.
- You must put up a diagram or sign that clearly shows the limits of the area/s, and the availability of the Smoking Management Plan.
About buffers
There are two options for the buffers:
- A 2 metre wide area in which patrons cannot eat, drink or smoke.
- A 2.1 metre high screen that is impervious to smoke.
A buffer indicates a separation between smoking and no-smoking areas.
- If you use a 2 metre wide area buffer, then at least one metre must come from your DOSA area. The other one metre must come from your no-smoking area.
- If you use a 2.1 metre screen buffer, this should be placed on the perimeter of your DOSA.
What can happen in a DOSA
Patrons can order their drinks in a different area then take them into the DOSA, and smoke and drink there. A DOSA can be made comfortable for your patrons, for example, through the use of furniture, lighting or heating.
What cannot happen in a DOSA
- Food cannot be taken into or consumed in the DOSA. “Food” means anything you can eat, and includes all food items, such as meals and snacks (ie. chips and nuts).
- Food or drink cannot be served to patrons in the DOSA. Staff can enter the DOSA to clear glasses and empty ashtrays, but they must not take orders from, or serve food or drinks to, patrons.
- No entertainment can be provided in the DOSA. This includes having television screens, music speakers, bands, pool tables, or any other type of amusement in the area. It is okay if a person in a DOSA can see a television screen which is in another part of the premises, or hear music or announcements, just as long as the entertainment is not specifically provided for the people in the DOSA.
- No poker machines can be located in the DOSA.
This page last updated:
June 2006
Review date: September 2006
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