NO SMOKING LAW
FROM 1 JULY 2007 WOLVERHAMPTON & ALL OF ENGLAND, SCOTLAND,
WALES & IRELAND WILL BECOME SMOKE FREE
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From
1st July 2007 it will be illegal to smoke in most indoor places
other than private homes. This includes restaurants, bars, cafes,
hotels, theatres, bingo halls, sports centres, shopping centres, schools and hospitals.
The law also covers workplaces including offices, factories, shops,
lorries, vans and company vehicles.
The no-smoking law is to protect those who don’t smoke and do not wish to inhale poisonous fumes so as to ensure
that
they are able to enjoy a smoke free environment free from the risks of
contracting debilitating and fatal diseases such as emphysema, bronchitis, heart disease, stroke and cancer.
When the new legislation becomes law on 1st July 2007 all enclosed
public premises will become completely smoke free. This means smoking
will not be allowed anywhere inside such premises and if contravened
could result in a fixed penalty fine of £50 and other fines of up to £2500.00.
To give you some further information about the smokefree law there are
some commonly asked questions, together with answers, below. If you
need any further guidance then you may wish to contact the Food and
Environmental Safety Service at Wolverhampton City Council via City
Direct on 01902 551155 or
e-mail: city.direct@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Giving Up Smoking?
If you are considering giving up smoking, help and support is
available. Ask the owner of the premises for more details and a
‘Stop Smoking Group’ could be set up at these
premises or
call the Wolverhampton PCT NHS Stop Smoking Service on 0800 0734242.
Smoking is well known to be extremely harmful, the effects of smoke are
reduced life expectancy and a reduced quality of life. Smoking causes
debilitating and fatal diseases such as emphysema, bronchitis, heart
disease, stroke and cancer to smokers themselves and to those
around them - friends, family and work colleagues.
Around 70% of smokers say they want to stop smoking, and the new
smokefree law could provide extra motivation to do so. There is
excellent free support available from the NHS to help smokers who want
to give up. This includes:
* Local NHS Stop Smoking Services - to find your local service, call
the NHS Smoking Helpline free on 0800 169 0 169, visit
gosmokefree.co.uk, text GIVEUP and your full postcode to 88088 or ask
at your local GP practice, pharmacy or hospital.
* NHS Smoking Helpline - individuals can speak to a specialist adviser
by calling 0800 169 0 169 (lines are open daily from 7am to 11pm).
* www.gosmokefree.co.uk - an online resource for all the advice, information and support needed to stop and stay stopped.
* Together - this support programme is free to join, and is designed
too help you stop smoking using both medical research as well as
insights from ex-smokers. You can choose to receive emails, text
messages, mailing packs and phone calls. For more information call the
NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 0 169 or visit www.gosmokefree.co.uk.
SMOKEFREE WOLVERHAMPTON – QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
Q. What premises will be affected?
A. All ‘wholly’ or
‘substantially’ enclosed
workplaces and almost all public places across the country will be
required to be completely smokefree by 6am on 1st July 2007. This means
that previously designated ‘smoking rooms’ will no
longer
be allowed and vehicles used for business purposes will also be covered
by the new law.
Q. Are there any exceptions?
A. Yes. There are likely to be limited exemptions for premises that act
as ‘private dwellings’ such as residential care
homes and
adult hospices together with other premises such as prisons, designated
hotel rooms and some private vehicles.
Q. Will the smoking prohibition affect all
places?
A. No. The new law is likely to prohibit smoking in public or working
areas only where they are wholly or substantially enclosed. External
designated smoking areas may be provided.
Q. Do employers have to provide smoking
breaks or outside smoking areas?
A. No on both counts. By law, employers must give staff an
uninterrupted rest break of 20 minutes when their daily working time is
more than six hours. Staff can, of course, smoke during their rest
period, if they choose, but they must not smoke in the office building,
or an enclosed or substantially enclosed area.
Q. Who will enforce the new law?
A. The local authority will enforce the new law. This will probably be
undertaken by dedicated enforcement officers and/or environmental
health officers. It is likely that compliance checks will be carried
out at affected premises as well as the investigation of any complaints.
Q. What will the penalties be?
A. Failure to comply with the law will be a criminal offence.
Individuals may be issued a fixed penalty of £50 (reduced to
£30 if paid within 15 days), for smoking in No-Smoking
premises.
The manager or person in control of No-Smoking premises could also be
prosecuted for allowing others to smoke with a fine up to
£2500.
He/She may also be issued a fixed penalty of £200 (reducing
to
£150 if paid within 15 days), for failing to display warning
notices on No-Smoking premises.
Q. What are the benefits of the new law?
A. Clearly, there are many benefits to the new legislation including;
reduced exposure to second-hand smoke and proven associated health
risks, reduced employer’s costs in terms of productivity and
absenteeism and increased non-smoker business. It is estimated that
thousands of lives will be saved over the next decade.
Q. Is there any help available if I want
to give up smoking?
A. Yes. The Primary Care Trust (PCT) has a range of services across
Wolverhampton. They run support groups and most GP surgeries have
trained staff that can offer one to one appointments. For further
information you may wish to contact the Wolverhampton PCT NHS Stop
Smoking Service on 0800 0734242.
Q. Who should I contact if I require
further information?
A. In Wolverhampton you may wish to contact the Food and Environmenal
Safety Service at Wolverhampton City Council via City Direct on 01902
551155 or e-mail: city.direct@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Information provided by Wolverhampton
City Council.
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