Northern Ireland announces public smoking ban

20 Oct 05
Northern Ireland is to follow the example of the Republic of Ireland and Scotland by banning smoking in all workplaces and enclosed public spaces from April 2007.

21 October 2005

Northern Ireland is to follow the example of the Republic of Ireland and Scotland by banning smoking in all workplaces and enclosed public spaces from April 2007.

The province's health minister, Shaun Woodward, announced the ban after a public consultation showed 91% of respondents supported a ban, while in private consultations ten out of 11 trade unions were also in favour of prohibition.

The ban is an indication that the Department of Health might be reconsidering its intention not to impose such draconian restrictions in England and Wales.

Woodward, a former smoker, said: 'I visited New York and the Republic of Ireland to find out if their smoking controls had worked. They did work. In fact, there was overwhelming support from the public and workers in both countries which was why the introduction of smoking controls was so successful.'

The argument for the ban, said the minister, was to protect workers. A bar worker could inhale the equivalent of ten cigarettes in an eight-hour shift. Improved ventilation was not an effective solution.

The experience in the Republic of Ireland was that bar trade fell by just 0.2% after the country's smoking ban, said the minister. However, treating people in hospital for the effects of damage directly related to smoking cost Northern Ireland's health services £75m a year.

Dr Jane Wilde, director of the Institute of Public Health in Ireland, welcomed the decision, but said it was 'regrettable' that it was not being implemented until 2007.

However, the Tobacco Manufacturers' Association said that polling had found only 33% of people in Northern Ireland supported a complete ban on smoking in pubs, bars and clubs.

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