New law made it easier for 'ultimate smoker' to stop

Steve Egerton stopped smoking a year ago after the new anti-smoking law came into effect for bars and restaurants. Picture / Greg Bowker

Steve Egerton says he was once "the ultimate smoker" but the ban on smoking in bars and restaurants put paid to that.

The 34-year-old, a restaurant manager at the Viaduct's Soul Bar, smoked 30 cigarettes a day for about 17 years, but quit for good in January after the law change came into effect the previous month. He had wanted to stop, and the legislation made it easier.

"It was definitely a large incentive because I didn't know how it was going to work, especially working in a bar and all of a sudden you couldn't smoke inside."

He said that after one earlier unsuccessful attempt to quit he found the transition relatively easy.

"People still don't believe I gave up. I was the ultimate smoker ... any excuse for a cigarette."

Mr Egerton used nicotine patches to stop.

"It's just become so socially unacceptable to smoke. There's no way I'm going back to smoking. I'm sure in the long term I'll be very grateful."

Mr Egerton's wife Debbie Egerton, a product manager, is thrilled.

"He works in hospitality where a lot of staff smoke and to be honest I didn't think he could do it. I'm so proud of him."

Mrs Egerton said there were many benefits for their family.

"Aside from the financial side ... he doesn't smell when he comes to bed. It's a lot more healthy and pleasant."

She said their young daughter was put off by the smell of cigarettes on her father. "She would have been reluctant to give him a cuddle because of the smell ... and so would I."

Mrs Egerton was happy about the new law for her own sake. "I'm seven months pregnant and I'm quite happy to go into a bar or restaurant and not be inundated with smoke."

But she thought it was "unfair" the law was enforced in Returned Services Association clubs.