Smokers to be turfed outside, then walled in

PUBS will be forced to build a wall through the middle of their beer gardens to separate smokers from non-smokers. 
The Territory will be the last jurisdiction to ban smoking in pubs - forcing smokers outside on January 2, 2010. 
But Health Minister Kon Vatskalis yesterday said that ban would go further after 12 months - with mandatory non-smoking areas in beer gardens as well. 
Pubs will then be forced to designate half of the beer garden as "non-smoking" from January 2, 2011. 
Mr Vatskalis said pubs could install a wall dividing these areas or create a three metre buffer area. 
Staff will not be allowed to serve customers in the smoking area. 
"Let common sense prevail. We've got people who smoke - it's still a legal product - and these people want to go out the same way the people who don't smoke want to go out," he said. 
Mr Vatskalis said a Tobacco Action Taskforce would be formed to make the transition "as smooth as possible". 
Smoker Andrew Morrison said he was often treated like a social leper, but would not mind the changes - provided there would always be a smoking area. 
Australian Hotels Association NT chief executive Amy Williamson said she was looking forward to working with the Government on these changes, but said there was still not enough information about the indoor ban - which starts in three months. 
But Mr Vatskalis said there was no more to give.
"No smoking inside the pubs. It's as simple as that. There are no more details on that one," he said. 
Mr Vatskalis said the Territory was the "last bastion" of smoking - with 36 per cent of us lighting up regularly. 
He suggested the laws may restrict smokers further with public support. 
"Smoking is going out of fashion," he said. 
"Things have changed, so we have changed."