N. Ireland bans workplace smoking from April 2007

By Kevin Smith

BELFAST (Reuters) – Northern Ireland followed in the
footsteps of the Irish Republic on Monday by outlawing smoking
in all workplaces, including pubs and restaurants.

The move, which some campaigners felt would increase
pressure on England to follow suit, comes into effect in April
2007.

Last year, the Irish Republic, which borders British-ruled
Northern Ireland, became the first country in the world to
impose a nationwide ban on smoking in pubs, restaurants and
workplaces.

A number of other countries, including Malta, Norway and
Italy, have since followed suit.

Northern Ireland Health Minister Shaun Woodward said the
move would lead to the prevention of thousands of unnecessary
deaths and smoking-related illnesses.

“This is an historic decision for Northern Ireland,” he
said.

“This is not about banning smoking. People have that
freedom of choice. What this decision is about is where people
smoke.”

His focus, he said, had been on the health of non-smokers
and protecting them from the hazards of second-hand smoke.

Earlier this year Woodward said he was considering at least
partial smoking restrictions for the province but on Monday he
said that given “overwhelming health arguments” he had decided
to opt for a comprehensive ban.

A survey by the health department showed 91 percent of
people in the province, including smokers, favored such a move.

The ruling was warmly welcomed by health organizations.

“We’re delighted. This is a big step forward for the health
of people in Northern Ireland,” said Gerry McElwee, head of
cancer prevention at the Ulster Cancer Foundation in Belfast.

“No longer will employees have to endure cancer-causing
substances in the line of duty. It will mean a significant
improvement in the population’s health and we look forward to
working with employers, employees and unions to implement it.”

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) hailed the decision as
“the most important advance for public health in Northern
Ireland for 30 years,” and said there was no excuse now for the
avoidance of such a move in England.

Woodward rejected claims the ban would damage the
province’s hospitality industry, pointing to an increase in
restaurant and bar business in New York in the year following
the city’s smoking ban in 2003, and a subsequent rise in job
creation in the sector in both New York and the Irish Republic.

However, Irish pub owners, and drink and tobacco firms,
complain the ban has impacted hard on sales and has driven some
publicans out of business.

Figures from the off-license trade suggest people in
Ireland are opting to socialize more in their own homes since
the ban.

Recent research has shown a sharp decrease in respiratory
health problems among non-smoking bar staff since smoking was
outlawed in Irish pubs and restaurants.