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Businesses 'obeying smoking law' | Businesses 'obeying smoking law' |
(4 days later) | |
Most hotels, pubs and other businesses checked in the first fortnight of the new English workplace smoking ban were following the law, say officials. | Most hotels, pubs and other businesses checked in the first fortnight of the new English workplace smoking ban were following the law, say officials. |
Enforcement officers visited 88,899 premises in early July - and say 97% had a ban in place. | Enforcement officers visited 88,899 premises in early July - and say 97% had a ban in place. |
However, councils issued 142 written warnings to employers and licensees - and one defiant smoker was issued with a fixed penalty fine. | However, councils issued 142 written warnings to employers and licensees - and one defiant smoker was issued with a fixed penalty fine. |
Charity Action on Smoking and Health hailed a "fantastic response". | Charity Action on Smoking and Health hailed a "fantastic response". |
The figures are comparable with the reaction in Scotland and Ireland, which introduced their own bans earlier than in England. | The figures are comparable with the reaction in Scotland and Ireland, which introduced their own bans earlier than in England. |
All the signs are that businesses and the public have taken the new law in their stride Dr Dawn PrimaroloPublic Health Minister | All the signs are that businesses and the public have taken the new law in their stride Dr Dawn PrimaroloPublic Health Minister |
The new restriction, which began on 1 July, covers all workplaces in England, and was designed to offer protection from passive tobacco smoke. | The new restriction, which began on 1 July, covers all workplaces in England, and was designed to offer protection from passive tobacco smoke. |
Even cars, lorries and vans operated by businesses were classed as workplaces and smoking forbidden. | Even cars, lorries and vans operated by businesses were classed as workplaces and smoking forbidden. |
Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said: "We predicted that it would be largely self-enforcing based on experience elsewhere, and the fact that three quarters of the public supported the move. | Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo said: "We predicted that it would be largely self-enforcing based on experience elsewhere, and the fact that three quarters of the public supported the move. |
"All the signs are that businesses and the public have taken the new law in their stride." | "All the signs are that businesses and the public have taken the new law in their stride." |
One area which still lags behind slightly is the placement of signs - businesses are expected to put up conspicuous no smoking signs, and 79% of those inspected in July had done so. | One area which still lags behind slightly is the placement of signs - businesses are expected to put up conspicuous no smoking signs, and 79% of those inspected in July had done so. |
'Compliance line' | 'Compliance line' |
The government set up a phone line for the public to report places and incidents in which the new law was being broken. | The government set up a phone line for the public to report places and incidents in which the new law was being broken. |
The "compliance line" received 2,342 calls in the first four weeks, and 606 were passed on to local authorities to follow up. | The "compliance line" received 2,342 calls in the first four weeks, and 606 were passed on to local authorities to follow up. |
There are signs that the numbers of calls is starting drop away, with fewer than 400 received in the last week of July. | There are signs that the numbers of calls is starting drop away, with fewer than 400 received in the last week of July. |
Amanda Sandford, for Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), said that she had not expected much resistance to the change in law. | Amanda Sandford, for Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), said that she had not expected much resistance to the change in law. |
"As we predicted, the people of England have welcomed the smokefree law wholeheartedly. It has been largely self-enforcing because it is what the vast majority of people want. | "As we predicted, the people of England have welcomed the smokefree law wholeheartedly. It has been largely self-enforcing because it is what the vast majority of people want. |
"The smokefree law is working as intended: it is protecting people from toxic tobacco smoke and enabling people to work and socialise, free from the worst form of indoor air pollution." | "The smokefree law is working as intended: it is protecting people from toxic tobacco smoke and enabling people to work and socialise, free from the worst form of indoor air pollution." |
However, Simon Clark, director of the smokers' lobby group Forest, said the high rate of compliance bore no relation to how popular the ban was. | |
He said: "It just means that most people are fearful of breaking the law. | |
"There is still a great deal of unhappiness at the extent of the ban. | |
"It is far too early to assess the long-term consequences, but we predict that hundreds of pubs will close and the ban will have a negative impact in many places where the local pub or club is the heart of the community." |
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