North: Date set for smoking ban
Smoking is to be banned in workplaces in the North, including bars and restaurants, from April 2007, the British government announced today.
But Northern Ireland Office Health Minister Shaun Woodward said a decision would still have to be reached on whether the ban would apply in prisons and psychiatric institutions.
After an extensive consultation exercise, the minister, who is an ex-smoker, said the protection of workers from second-hand smoke was a social justice issue.
He told an audience which included health professionals and members of the licensed trade in Belfast’s Waterfront Hall: “I do not want to stop those who want to go on smoking from doing so.
“That’s your choice. You have every right to lead your life as you choose.
“But no-one has a right to subject colleagues and workmates to the dangers and hazards of second-hand smoke and passive smoking.
“No-one has a right to subject members of the public who do not smoke to those same dangers in enclosed public spaces.
“So I am today announcing my decision to introduce legislation to control smoking in all workplaces and enclosed public spaces.
“I say to smokers, smoke if you wish to but not at work and not in enclosed public spaces.
“The legislation will come in to effect in April 2007.”
The decision will mean no-one will be able to smoke in bars and restaurants either north or south of the Irish border from that date.
In March last year, the Republic became the first European country to introduce a comprehensive ban – with smokers forced to stand outside bars and restaurants if they want a drag on their cigarettes and cigars.
Italy and Norway have followed suit, with Scotland also poised to introduce its ban next April.
The Government is currently facing demands for a comprehensive ban in England.
Mr Woodward said the issue of extending the ban to prisons and psychiatric institutions raised a number of questions.
“There are arguments for and against,” he explained. “After all, a prison cell is your home.
“On the other hand, it’s also a prison officer’s place of work.
“We will have to work that out – carefully.
“In New York, they extended the controls to prisons and it works.
“In Dublin, they have not. So we will continue with our work on this.”
Opponents have claimed the ban will have a negative impact on the hospitality industry, putting jobs at risk.
Mr Woodward said he would work with employers and also learn from the experience of Scotland’s ban when drafting the legislation.
However, he said that while there had been predictions in the Irish Republic that sales in pubs would fall by 15% to 20% once the ban was introduced, the reality was they fell by only 0.2%.
“That must be seen against a background in which between 2001 and 2004, volume sales in Irish pubs were already falling by 15% before the legislation was even introduced,” he said.
“In addition, recently published figures revealed that the numbers employed in the hospitality sector in the Republic have increased significantly.
“In the first quarter of this year, the numbers employed have increased to 23,200 – up 1,400 from the previous quarter.”
He also noted surveys which showed 98% of the Irish public believed a year after the ban that their workplaces were healthier. That included 94% of smokers.
During the consultation, Mr Woodward met New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg to discuss that city’s ban.
An online survey of 70,000 people of the North also showed 91% backed a total ban.
