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| EU-wide public smoking ban urged | EU-wide public smoking ban urged |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| The European Union's 27 member states are being urged to copy Ireland and ban smoking in all indoor public spaces. | The European Union's 27 member states are being urged to copy Ireland and ban smoking in all indoor public spaces. |
| Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou is also raising the idea of EU-wide legislation to end passive smoking outside the home. | Health Commissioner Markos Kyprianou is also raising the idea of EU-wide legislation to end passive smoking outside the home. |
| Officials say passive smoking kills 79,000 Europeans per year - about one in 10 of all tobacco-related deaths. | Officials say passive smoking kills 79,000 Europeans per year - about one in 10 of all tobacco-related deaths. |
| Scotland has already copied Ireland's example, and a ban will be in place throughout the UK by 1 July. | |
| Some other EU countries have introduced partial bans, which allow smoking rooms in bars and restaurants. | Some other EU countries have introduced partial bans, which allow smoking rooms in bars and restaurants. |
| See EU support for smoking bans | See EU support for smoking bans |
| A poll published last year suggested that smoking bans were popular in countries where they had been introduced. | A poll published last year suggested that smoking bans were popular in countries where they had been introduced. |
| Global smoking curbs | Global smoking curbs |
| Overall, more than 80% of respondents across the EU said they favoured a ban in all public indoor spaces - though the figure dropped to 61% when respondents were asked specifically if they supported a ban in bars. | Overall, more than 80% of respondents across the EU said they favoured a ban in all public indoor spaces - though the figure dropped to 61% when respondents were asked specifically if they supported a ban in bars. |
| Imperial Tobacco, the maker of John Player, Davidoff and West cigarettes, said there was insufficient scientific evidence to establish that "other people's tobacco smoke is a cause of any disease". | Imperial Tobacco, the maker of John Player, Davidoff and West cigarettes, said there was insufficient scientific evidence to establish that "other people's tobacco smoke is a cause of any disease". |
| "Where regulations are introduced, we support those that accommodate both smokers and non-smokers and therefore retain an element of freedom and choice," the company said. | "Where regulations are introduced, we support those that accommodate both smokers and non-smokers and therefore retain an element of freedom and choice," the company said. |
| Following suit | Following suit |
| Italy, Sweden, and Malta have partial bans which allow smoking in closed-off, separately ventilated areas. | Italy, Sweden, and Malta have partial bans which allow smoking in closed-off, separately ventilated areas. |
| Estonia and Finland are introducing similar measures later this year, and France will follow suit next year. | Estonia and Finland are introducing similar measures later this year, and France will follow suit next year. |
| France will take its first step on Wednesday, by introducing a ban in some public buildings. | France will take its first step on Wednesday, by introducing a ban in some public buildings. |
| There are other countries, however, such as Germany, which have no plans for a smoking ban. | There are other countries, however, such as Germany, which have no plans for a smoking ban. |
| Mr Kyprianou will sketch a number of options, which include leaving the EU's patchwork of different approaches as it is, getting governments and stakeholders to agree non-binding minimum standards, and binding EU-wide legislation. | Mr Kyprianou will sketch a number of options, which include leaving the EU's patchwork of different approaches as it is, getting governments and stakeholders to agree non-binding minimum standards, and binding EU-wide legislation. |
| Mr Kyprianou is thought to be in favour of legislation. | Mr Kyprianou is thought to be in favour of legislation. |
| "The goal of the green paper is to promote debate on the issue and to seek views from government, MEPs and other interested parties on what role if any the EU could play," Mr Kyprianou's spokesman said. | "The goal of the green paper is to promote debate on the issue and to seek views from government, MEPs and other interested parties on what role if any the EU could play," Mr Kyprianou's spokesman said. |
| Return to top | Return to top |