England Goes Smokefree In Enclosed Public Places
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On Sunday, 1st Jully, 2007, the Health Act 2006 came into force - it is now illegal to smoke in virtually every enclosed public place and workplace in England. Shops, offices, factories, pubs, cafes, restaurants, membership clubs, public transport, and work vehicles used by more than one person are all covered by the smokefree legislation.
New Health Secretary Alan Johnson said:
“I am thrilled that my first major announcement as Health Secretary enacts the single most important public health legislation for a generation. The scientific and medical evidence is clear - secondhand smoke kills. There is no safe level of exposure. This legislation means that thousands of lives will be saved and the health of everybody will be protected.
“Support for a smokefree England is strong, with almost almost 80 per cent of the public backing the legislation. The vast majority of people who do smoke say they want to give up. Over time, this legislation will result in some 600,000 fewer smokers. A smokefree England will help provide a supportive environment for those who want to quit.
“We have worked hard over the last seven months to ensure that everyone is aware of the new law, how it affects them and what they need to do. Support has been provided to businesses and individuals by the Department of Health and local councils and we are confident that England is ready.
“But we are not stopping here. Hot on the heels of the smokefree legislation, on October 1st 2007, we will be raising the legal minimum age for buying tobacco from 16 to 18 years old. Smoking is dangerous at any age, but the younger people start, the more likely they are to become life-long smokers and to die early. The law change demonstrates our determination to protect people from the harmful effects of tobacco.
“I would like to thank everyone, from health and business groups to the leisure and hospitality industry, for their involvement and support in the Smokefree England campaign and for helping to make a smokefree England a reality.”
Comprehensive information on the smokefree legislation can be found online at http://www.smokefreeengland.co.uk/
The new law will mean that virtually all enclosed public spaces and workplaces will be required to be smokefree. This means:
– it will be an offence to smoke in smokefree premises or vehicles
– it will be an offence for those who control or manage smokefree premises or vehicles to permit other to smoke in the premises or vehicle
– it will be an offence for people who occupy or manage smokefree premises or vehicles not to display the required no smoking signs at premises or within the vehicle
Smokefree England and enforcement officers from local authorties have been working closely with businesses in the lead up to the implementation. Enforcement officers will be on duty to ensure that compliance with the legislation is maintained.
The penalties and fines are set out in the Health Act 2006:
Smoking in a smokefree premises or vehicle: a fixed penalty of £50 (discounted to £30 if paid within 15 days from the issue of a notice) or a fine by a court not exceeding level 1 on the standard scale (up to £200)
Failure to display no smoking signs in smokefree premises and vehicles as required by the new law: a fixed penalty notice of £200 (discounted to £150 if paid within 15 days from the issue of a notice) or a fine by a court not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale (up to £1000)
Failing to prevent smoking in a smokefree premises or vehicle: a fine by court not exceeding level 4 on the standard scale (up to £2500).