The Cancer Council has called for a blanket ban on smoking in alfresco dining areas to replace "ambiguous" rules about where it is acceptable to light up.It wants diners to weigh in on the issue as the State Government considers a new tobacco strategy that could include a smoking ban in all outdoor eating areas of NSW cafes, restaurants, pubs and other public places where food is served.Regional programs co-ordinator for the Cancer Council's southern region Toby Dawson said existing legislation didn't go far enough.Rules were also different between council areas, making for a "piecemeal approach", he said."At the moment the legislation [bans] smoking in an enclosed area, but it's a little bit ambiguous what is [defined as] enclosed dining," he said."It's time for the State Government to really take control of it."Owner of Cliff Rd's Aqua Restaurant, Ana Babic, has required all of her alfresco customers to butt out since July 2009, when an amendment to the NSW smoke-free legislation was passed.She was in favour of the change, but is frustrated that cafes with similar outdoor set-ups can still allow smoking."People get angry at us if we say they're not allowed to smoke," she said."I support a [blanket] ban if [the Government] is going to be really strict about it and enforce it. They need to be consistent ... and let people know."Stan Crinis, from North Beach cafe Diggies, said he was unsure how existing legislation applied to certain sections of the cafe's outdoor area, but had a total smoking ban in place anyway because it appealed to more customers than it put off.Mr Crinis' comments are in line with a NSW Health survey showing 38 per cent of males and 43 per cent of females would visit a smoke-free premises more often.The deadline for submissions on Strategic Directions for Tobacco Control in NSW 2011-2016 ends tonight at 5pm. For details, visit www.canceraction.com.au.