Bar staff healthier because of smoking ban
New research has shown a significant fall in respiratory illnesses amongst bar staff since the introduction of the smoking ban in March 2004.
The study compared the health of bar workers in the Republic with their colleagues in the North before and after the ban came into force here.
It revealed a reduction of more than 16 percent in lung related illnesses in bar staff in the Republic, while there was no fall in the number of lung complaints in the North.
There was also a drop in exposure to second hand smoke by workers outside the bar trade.
Meanwhile, the British government is expected to announce a total smoking ban in all enclosed public places in the North later today.
All the main political parties in the North are said to support it.
In a survey of 171 bar staff there, 74% including those who smoked said they were in favour of a smoke free work place.
