It’s more than half a year since the axe went down on smoking in public places – but has the smoking ban really made a difference?

The UK Smoking Ban

When England finally went smokefree on 1st July 2007, smokers may have complained, but by large pubs and restaurants didn’t. A massive 97 per cent of the 90 000 premises inspected by the Department of Health in the two weeks after 1st July were smokefree as required by the new law – just as they had been in Scotland and Ireland previously.

Experts said the limited need for enforcement showed that businesses supported the smoking ban – or at least took note of the good business sense in respecting a move backed by the significant majority of their customers.

Support for The Smoking Ban

Among the public, too, acceptance of the ban has increased since it came into place. A recent poll by Cancer Research UK suggested that more than three quarters of those surveyed believe that the legislation will benefit their health in the long term, and even bar workers who smoke are overwhelmingly positive about the health effects of the new law, with 89 per cent reporting that their work environment is now healthier because of it, and 69 per cent believing that it will benefit their health in the long term.

Surveys revealed that people have enjoyed the healthier atmosphere in public spaces, especially the cleaner air and not smelling of smoke after a night out.

Have People Stopped Smoking Since The Smoking Ban

Around 165,000 smokers quit successfully between April and September of 2007 - an increase of 28 per cent compared to the same period the previous year, according to the Department of Health. And that’s just the people who had successfully quit at the four-week follow up interview of the NHS Stop Smoking Service.

What are the Benefits of The Smoking Ban

"It's great news that so many smokers have been able to quit, preventing serious health problems and complications,” said Public Health Minister Dawn Primarolo. “And these figures are confirmation that the £56 million we invested into the service last year was money well spent. A smaller proportion of adults now smoke - 22 per cent down from 24 per cent. We are well on track to meet our target to reduce the proportion of smokers in England to 21 per cent by 2010".

The government says that removing secondhand smoke from enclosed public and work environments is an enormous step for public health, and that thousands of lives will be saved.

The Smoking Ban: A Decrease of Heart Attacks

And although it will take a few years to reap the full benefits, the proof is already stacking up. A study of nine major Scottish hospitals, for example, has found a 17 per cent fall in admissions for heart attacks in the first year after the smoking ban came into force there. The evaluation also found that the ban has already led to a 39 per cent reduction in second hand smoke exposure in general and an 86 per cent reduction in secondhand smoke in bars, plus an increase in the proportion of homes with smoking restrictions.

It’s part of the reason why life expectancy is at the highest level ever, according to the Department of Health, with the number of people smoking is and the number of smoking attributable deaths both decreasing.

The Smoking Ban: Looking to the Future

In 2007, the age of sale of tobacco was increased from 16 to 18 years and hard hitting picture warnings will appear on all tobacco products produced for the UK market from 1 October 2008. Later this year, the Department of Health will consult on the next steps in tobacco control and the further regulation of tobacco products, including around the display of tobacco at the point of sale, access to tobacco from vending machines and packaging.

Smoking Legislation: What People Actually Think

The public seems to be split on the issue, with many believing the ban has been too extreme.

Kate Thornton and The Smoking Ban

TV presenter Kate Thornton says the new laws have been a real help. “Six months into giving up smoking, suddenly nobody else could smoke in the restaurant or pub and I found that a lot easier,” she said. Chart topping songstress Estelle is a fan of the ban too. “I think extinguish all cigarettes - get rid of them today,” she said.

Scouting for Girls and The Smoking Ban

Scouting for Girls bassist Greg Churchouse agrees, even though he’s a smoker. “It’s just nice to go to the pub and not stink of smoke,” he said. “It can be a pain in the arse now you’ve got to stand outside but it helps you smoke less and it makes a nicer atmosphere; although some pubs are starting to smell like feet and stale beer and that has been a bit of a problem.”

In fact, smokers and non-smokers alike seem to agree that the two major problems with the smoking ban are being forced to break the conversation to pop outside for a smoke, and that the not-so-attractive stench of pubs and bars is no longer masked by tobacco.

UK Smoking Ban: The Stench of Pubs & Clubs

“Pubs and clubs stink of BO and farts!” says smoker Scott Fitzpatrick, who likens the ban to fascism. “I've also noticed a serious drop in the amount of people that visit our local pub on weeknights. On the positive side, I generally smoke a lot less when I'm out socialising, and it can be very useful having to smoke outside when you end up at a crappy club playing crappy music!”

Your Views on The Smoking Ban

Smoker Anthony Fox agrees that stinking pubs are a massive downside. “It’s not cancerous, but not nice on the nose either!” he says. “I really don’t mind having to go outside to smoke though, the best bit is meeting new smoking buddies whenever you pop out for a quick one, and of course the best place to get company gossip is outside over a ciggy.”

Meanwhile, smoker Sam Littman can’t see why a closed-off, ventilated room would not have sufficed. “All the people that smoke go outside and the conversation takes a massive down turn,” he says. “Smoking areas outside have now turned into the best places to be.”

Bad for Business: The Smoking Ban

And smoker Caroline Hossack agrees that while smoking outside is a nuisance, there are also more worrying concerns for businesses.

“No girl, no matter how much we love gossip, likes to gossip in the bloody freezing, cold, wet bloody weather,” she says. “This ban takes all the fun of the pub away and from the feedback of my local pubs it has caused a lot of harm to their business. Empty pubs lead to staff being let go, and prices of beer going up to retrieve the lost taxes from cigarette sales. So much so that breweries are now charging pub landlords on the delivery of their beer, per keg and per case, so the landlords are suffering and a lot are talking of pulling out of the trade. Soon bed and breakfasts and hotels will have to place a 10% tax on each bed occupied.”

British Heart Foundation: Views on The Smoking Ban

It is estimated that two people die every day from diseases caused by second-hand smoke in the workplace. Research funded by the British Heart Foundation has also shown that non-smokers who work in smoke-filled atmospheres have up to a 50 per cent increased risk of developing coronary heart disease. To find out more about the positive effect the smoking ban is likely to have, Click Here.

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