Victoria could be one step closer to banning smoking in outdoor dining areas as politicians debate proposed tobacco laws that would also extend to electronic cigarettes.
Legislation to make outdoor dining areas smoke-free zones in Victoria will be debated in Victoria's parliament on Tuesday.
The bill would also amend the Tobacco Act so electronic cigarettes are regulated in the same way as traditional tobacco products.
The change would prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to anyone under 18, prohibit their use wherever smoking is banned, and restrict advertising.
Quit Victoria say these restrictions would be a great first step in making sure kids won't get their hands on the products.
Australia's consumer watchdog has also launched Federal Court action against two e-cigarette manufacturers after both claimed their e-cigarettes didn't contain cancer-causing chemicals when in fact they did.
Independent testing revealed they included carcinogens found in conventional cigarettes such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein.
The Victorian government expects its bill will pass the lower house later this week and the upper house in mid-August.
This would give venues time to prepare for the new rules, which the government hopes will come into effect in August 2017.
The Tobacco Amendment Bill was introduced into parliament in May.
