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N. Ireland bans workplace smoking from April 2007

Posted on: Monday, 17 October 2005, 13:33 CDT

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.

Source: REUTERS

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