What does going smokefree mean?

From July 1st it is against the law to smoke in nearly all enclosed public places and workplaces in England. This includes:

• Pubs, bars, cafes, restaurants, shopping centres and nightclubs
• Public transport and any work vehicles used by more than one person
• Offices and enclosed workplaces
• Indoor smoking areas including staff smoking rooms

People who used to smoke in these places will now need to go outside.

Benefits for everyone

Everyone will benefit from healthier, cleaner air in indoor public places.

We know that breathing in other people's smoke is bad for your health and can lead to asthma, cancer, heart disease and stroke. Going smokefree will protect people in England from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.

What if I'm a smoker?

If you smoke, then this is a great opportunity to quit.

Other smokefree countries have found that smokefree laws help smokers to give up. Around 70% of smokers say they want to stop smoking.

If you want to quit you are more likely to succeed if you get professional support. To access free information and stop smoking services:

• Visit the NHS Go Smokefree website
• Call the NHS Smoking helpline on 0800 169 0 169 (7am-11pm every day)

Employers' responsibilities

The new law means that employers must display no-smoking signs in all smokefree premises and vehicles. They also have a legal responsibility to make sure that people follow the new laws.

The NHS Go Smokefree website has more information about:

• The steps employers need to take
• The signs employers need to display and how to order them
• How to develop a smokefree policy
• How to support staff who want to give up smoking

More information

More detailed information about the smokefree laws across the UK can be found in our public policy section.