A prominent Adelaide businessman has been fined $1,300 after being hauled before a magistrate for repeatedly smoking cigars in public.
Tailor Joseph Uzumcu breached Adelaide City Council bylaws on six separate occasions by lighting up outside his Gawler Place clothing store.
Adelaide’s Rundle Mall and its laneways are a smoke-free zone.
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The 66-year-old tailor made no attempt to deny the charges when confronted by 7NEWS on Thursday about his smoking habit.
“I run a very stressful business,” Uzumcu admitted.
“I come out of the shop, I have a problem I just light up a cigar.
“Absolutely I was guilty as charged. I smoked. Guilty as charged.”
Joseph Uzumcu has been fined for smoking outside his store. Credit: 7NEWS
The tailor is located in Rundle Mall. Credit: 7NEWS
When asked if he should give up smoking, he responded: “Absolutely.”
“I would not advise any of the young generation to smoke because it is very difficult. Nicotine addiction is very difficult to give up,” Uzumcu added.
“But if I get medical advice, I’ll be happy to take it (on).”
Uzumcu elaborated on his reasoning for smoking in the banned zone, saying: “My shop is just there, so I come out of the shop, I just like, I’m there.”
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“I don’t smoke in front of the kids. I don’t smoke when there is the public around. I don’t smoke when older people are there. I don’t smoke when I see a pram. I walk away,” he said.
“You can’t smoke in front of a child or an older gentleman.
“Someone complained because I smoked because my cigar smoking has a very strong odour.
“I don’t smoke cigarettes, I hate cigarettes so I only smoke cigars so the cigar smoke is stronger than cigarettes.”
Despite the hefty fine, Uzumcu escaped a conviction, allowing him to travel to New York City for Fashion Week and a photoshoot in Los Angeles.
The case highlights Adelaide City Council’s strict enforcement of public smoking bylaws in the CBD area.
Uzumcu said he would now be smoking on North Terrace to avoid fines.
[SRC] https://7news.com.au/news/adelaide-tailor-joseph-uzumcu-speaks-after-1300-fine-for-smoking-cigars-outside-his-clothing-shop-c-20146213