Scotland to ban smoking in public places…
Plans for a comprehensive ban on smoking in public places in Scotland should be in place by 2006, Jack McConnell, Scottish Parliament First Minister, announced last week. In a statement to the Scottish Parliament
he said that the legislation would be enforced by Environmental Health
and Local Licensing Officers.
Fines of up to £2,500 will be imposed on licencees or employers
failing to enforce this new law. Licensees who persistently refuse to
enforce the ban will lose their liquor licence.
“No longer will Scotland be the place in Europe most associated
with poor health and no longer does Scotland need to wait for someone
else to take
responsibility for difficult decisions,” said Mr McConnell.
He added that a total ban would be easier to enforce and simpler to understand
than measures falling short of that.
The Scottish Government has also published
three research reports on
smoking.
…and England opts for a partial ban Arrangements
will be in place for all restaurants in England to be smoke-free by the
end of 2008 but smoking will only be banned in public houses and bars preparing
and serving food, it has been announced.
Other public houses and bars will be free to choose whether to allow smoking
on the premises, although smoking at the bar will be prohibited everywhere.
Health secretary John Reid announced these plans in his address to parliament
this week on the launch of the White
Paper on improving public health.
He told the House: “We will ensure
that people will be able to go to their workplace or choose to go out for
a meal or a drink without the damage, inconvenience or pollution from second-hand
smoke, but do that in a way which, while protecting that right of the majority,
still allows a degree of choice — albeit a much more limited one
than before — to the minority.”
Several bodies, including the British Medical Association, the UK Public
Health Association and the public health charity ASH, have expressed disappointment
that the ban will not be a complete one. ASH describes the new measures
as an “unworkable and unsustainable bodge” and says that there
is no good reason to exempt some public houses and private clubs.
News feature p739 |
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