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Smokefree Legislation - Questions and Answers

Why will this legislation come in?

Following a vote in parliament on the 14th February 2006, MPs voted, by a majority of 200 for a comprehensive smokefree law in England. This law will protect workers in enclosed public places, including pubs, bars and restaurants, from the very harmful effects of secondhand smoke.

Smoke is a toxic cocktail of over 4000 chemicals, at least 69 of which cause cancer and it affects health in many different ways. Immediate effects include breathing difficulties, triggering asthma attacks and reducing coronary blood flow. Longer term it increases the risk of lung cancer and heart disease in non-smokers by about a quarter. Separate smoking areas and ventilation are not solutions. There is no safe level of exposure and the greater the exposure, the greater the health risks. Even small amounts of tobacco smoke have a large effect on your risk of heart disease.

Prior to the implementation of the law, over 2 million people were exposed to secondhand smoke at work. This caused over 600 deaths each year , including 50 people in the hospitality industry- pubs, bars, restaurants, hotels and nightclubs.

Comprehensive legislation is the only way to safeguard the health of workers.

When will it happen?

The different countries that make up the UK have introduced smokefree legislation at different times.

• England is going smokefree from 6am on 1st July 2007.
• Wales went smokefree on the 2nd April 2007.
• Northern Ireland went smokefree on the 30th April 2007.
• Scotland has been smokefree since 26th March 2006.

The UK joins an increasing number of countries who have decided to go smokefree. For example, the Republic of Ireland has been smokefree since March 2004.

Where will it apply?

Nearly all enclosed workplaces and public places, such as offices, restaurants, pubs, factories, shopping centres and public transport will be covered by smokefree legislation. This means that smoking will be prohibited in these places. People will still be able to smoke outdoors, in private homes, and in some other places where a person has their home, such as in designated areas in prisons.

Visit the Smokefree England website for more information about:

• how the new regulations will affect you
• responsibilities of business owners and employers
• ordering free signage

What will it apply to?

The smokefree legislation applies to all forms of tobacco that can be lit and smoked. This includes cigarettes, cigars and pipes.

What difference will it make?

The law will make enclosed public places healthier for employees and the public, including in the short term improvements in respiratory illnesses and lung function and other health benefits longer term.

It is also estimated that around 700,000 smokers will try to quit smoking during the first year of the ban. Smoking causes over a quarter of all cancer deaths so the law will also help term reduce cancer deaths.

How do you know it will work?

Evidence from Ireland, Scotland and other smokefree countries clearly shows that the law is popular, self-enforcing and helps some smokers to quit. Since Ireland went smokefree in March 2004, the legislation has been very popular. Compliance rates were over 90%, leading to an 83% reduction in air pollution in Irish pubs. A similar pattern is emerging in Scotland. In the first six months after the ban was introduced in March 2006, compliance rates have been over 96%.

There is strong public support in England for the measure. In a survey conducted by ICM Research in April 2007, over three quarters of the population said that they supported the law.

How can I find information about quitting?

Research shows that you are more likely to succeed in giving up smoking if you seek professional help and support.

To find out more about giving up:

• the NHS provides services to help with quitting, including stop smoking groups, one to one counselling and the ‘Together’ programme to help you give up at home. Call the NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 0 169 (open 7am-11pm every day) or visit www.gosmokefree.co.uk
• visit QUIT – the independent charity who provide practical help, advice and support to all smokers who want to stop, or call their Quitline on 0800 00 22 00
• visit our Healthy Living pages, which have information on giving up

Where can I go for more information?

For more information on the smokefree legislation, please visit the Department of Health website or have a look at the information available on the ASH website.

For information specific to England, please have a look at the guidance available from Smokefree England.

Guidance for regulatory officers can be found at the website for the Chartered Institute for Environmental Health.

If you would like to find out more about the risks of smoking please visit www.deathfromsmoking.net or our Smoke is Poison website.