Following the ban on smoking further pressure has been exerted on the billion dollar tobacco industry. Professor Simon Chapman, the tobacco control expert from Australia has asked for a ban on the ‘smoko break’ that is practiced at the workplaces in the region.

Professor Chapman states that smokers tend to be sicker, in comparison to their counterparts thus, making them less productive and result in their bosses incurring losses. He feels that apart from being less productive, smokers tend to take longer breaks, in contrast to their non-smoker colleagues.

He has suggested that Organizational heads in New Zealand and Australia should consider removing the break at workplaces and make it impossible for smokers to smoke at workplaces.

According to the statistics available, an average, 20% people smoke in New Zealand, in whom 40% Maori people smoke. New Zealand is the third country in the world to ban smoking in indoor workplaces, which included bars and restaurants.

Despite the ban, people smoking at workplaces is still a routine practice in New Zealand, with street corners hosting to be a common smoking zone.

Professor Chapman expresses that he feels that the ban was not justified, as the non-smokers were not observing any such breaks.