Smoking will be banned in South Australian outdoor dining areas by July 2016.

Outdoor dining areas are among the last public places where people are regularly exposed to potentially harmful tobacco smoke, Health Minister Jack Snelling says.

He says SA’s move will leave Victoria as the final state to restrict smoking in alfresco settings.

Smoking will still be allowed in outdoor drinking areas but only in an area where food is not served.

“We recognise that the hotel industry in particular has invested significant money in outdoor alfresco areas after the banning of smoking inside hotels,” he said.

“That is why we will give time for the hotel industry to adapt to the new measures to ensure a smooth transition and allow those hotels to plan separate outdoor drinking areas where food is not served if that’s what they wish to do.”

SA’s smoking rates had increased from 16.7 per cent to 19.4 per cent over the past 12 months, he said.

In response, the state government would reinstate $1.1 million a year in anti-tobacco mass media campaigns, the minister said.