Pollution levels in smoking bars highlighted
St Patrick’s Day revellers in London and Belfast will be exposed to 14 times more pollution in Irish themed bars than they would if they were drinking in pubs in the Republic, a survey claimed today.
The Chartered Institute of Environmental Health said a study of bars in Europe, north America, Asia and Australia showed indoor pollution in Dublin, Cork and Galway bars was 91% lower than in Irish themed bars in European cities which had yet to implement smoking bans.
Air samples were taken from 128 Irish pubs in 15 countries by the Harvard School of Public Health in a study co-authored by Galway’s principal environmental health officer Maurice Mulcahy.
The highest recorded level of pollution was found in an Irish themed bar in Lyon in France.
It was 45 times the average in the Republic of Ireland.
The Chartered Institute’s Northern Ireland director Gary McFarlane said the findings underlined the need for smoking bans planned throughout the UK.
As Irish bars around the globe prepared for tomorrow’s St Patrick’s Day celebrations, he said: “The music and Guinness may be similar but the air quality certainly isn’t.
“This reinforces the need for pubs in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK to implement a comprehensive smoke-free initiative to protect public health in line with new legislation due shortly.”
The Republic in March 2004 was the first European country to have a nationwide ban on indoor smoking in all public places, including restaurants and pubs, providing the opportunity to assess the impact of comprehensive smoke free legislation.
Scotland will become the first UK region to introduce a ban on smoking in public places on March 26.
Northern Ireland will introduce a total ban in April next year, with the province’s Health Minister Shaun Woodward considering raising the age limit for the sale of cigarettes from 16.
Last month MPs voted to ban smoking in all bars and private members clubs in England by summer 2007.
