SMOKE FREE LEGISLATION
On 1st July 2007 virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces in England became ‘smokefree’.
This will include pubs, clubs, cafes and restaurants, cinemas and theatres, offices, factories and shops. The only exceptions will be private homes and places that are home like such as care institutions, designated hotel bedrooms and prisons.
The ban also applies to public transport such as taxis and coaches and work vehicles used by more than one person.
Why is the law needed?
Did you know that secondhand smoke is estimated to increase non-smoker's risk of getting lung cancer by 24%, and the risk of getting heart disease by 25%?
Creating smokefree enclosed public spaces will also help people trying to give up smoking to succeed in an environment where social pressure to smoke is reduced.
What do I have to do?
Employers, managers and those in charge of smoke free premises and vehicles will be requires to:
- Display ‘no smoking’ signs where required by legislation
- Take reasonable steps to ensure that no-one smokes in smoke free premises.
The Smoke-free England website has all the information you need, including checklists, legal advice and help to develop your smoke free policy. You can also download a guidance brochure direct from the website. http://www.smokefreeengland.co.uk/
How will the legislation be enforced in Horsham District?
Staff in the Public Health and Licensing Department will be carrying out the Councils enforcement duties.
Generally this will be by advice, education and encouragement to adopt the spirit of the law. However where persistent non-compliance is found, officers have the power to issue fixed penalty notices or issue proceedings.
The experience of other countries such as Ireland and Scotland which have gone smoke free is that the law is generally self regulating due to public and peer pressure.
Reports in the media that smoke-free legislation may be enforced by officers operating as ‘undercover anti-smoking police’ who will photograph and film people are highly misleading. It is not and never has been the intention that the smoke-free legislation should be enforced in this way.
Further information and advice
Please contact the Public Health and Licensing Department on 01403 215251 or email us at publichealth.licensing@horsham.gov.uk
There is help for staff who may wish to stop smoking:
The NHS offers a wide range of excellent and easily accessible support for smokers including local Stop Smoking Services. For information on prescribed medication and free support contact the ‘West Sussex Stop Smoking Helpline’ on 01903 708000.
Links
| http://www.smokefreeengland.co.uk/ | Your resource for everything to do with smoke free |
| http://www.dh.gov.uk/ | Department of Health |
| http://www.gosmokefree.co.uk/ | The NHS stop smoking support site |
| http://www.quit.org.uk/ | Quit is a charity devoted to supporting smokers who want to stop |
| http://www.smokefreeaction.org.uk/ | A site devoted to the development and introduction of smokefree |