North in countdown to smoking ban

The countdown to the introduction of a smoking ban in the North was signalled today with a campaign to prepare the public and businesses for the changes.

The countdown to the introduction of a smoking ban in the North was signalled today with a campaign to prepare the public and businesses for the changes.

The ban on smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces comes into force in 112 days – several months ahead of similar legislation in England.

To get people ready, a campaign – Space to Breathe – developed by the UK Health Promotion Agency on behalf of the Department of Health, will include TV and radio advertisements, public information leaflet and website - www.spacetobreathe.org.uk.

The British government and the anti-smoking lobby hope the new legislation will lead to a substantial drop in the 3,000 smoking-related deaths each year in the North.

Similar bans already in place in the Republic and Scotland have resulted in an improvement to the health of workers in the hospitality industry.

Launching the campaign, the UK health minister Paul Goggins said: “Northern Ireland will go smoke-free on April 30, 2007. This legislation is extremely important and will have a positive impact on the health of people across Northern Ireland. It is therefore essential that we all understand our rights and responsibilities.

“The ’Space to Breathe’ campaign provides a lot of useful information including the effects of second-hand smoke, general guidance on the smoke-free legislation and advice on smoking cessation services.

“I would encourage as many people as possible to familiarise themselves with what this legislation will actually mean in practice. Its successful implementation will require everyone’s co-operation.”

Business, especially publicans and restaurant owners have complained the government has yet to detail exactly what arrangements and outside facilities they can make for those who wish to smoke.

Given that it can take a year to get approval for a planning application in the North, business complains that it is already too late to make arrangements for April 30.

But the minister promised guidance is coming.

“Prior to the changes coming into effect, a comprehensive guidance pack will be provided to the business community. A team of 10 Environmental Health Officers have already started working with the business sector.

“They will visit business premises, and provide seminars and other materials to help them comply with the new law.” Mr Goggins described the ban as an exciting development in the North.

“The smoke-free legislation will enable people to go about their business and leisure pursuits free from the risk of being exposed to damaging second hand smoke – it will provide ’Space to Breathe’ for everyone,” he said.

Dr Brian Gaffney, chief executive of the Health Promotion Agency, said there was no doubt that breathing in other people’s smoke significantly increased the risk of cancer, heart disease, stroke and asthma.

He said 74% of adults in the North were now non-smokers and of those who did smoke 77% wanted to quit.

The new legislation had received overwhelming support from the public and would save lives, he insisted.

“Around 3,000 lives are lost each year in Northern Ireland as a result of tobacco-related illnesses, most of which are preventable,” he said.

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