Hewitt: 600,000 will quit after smoking ban
Cigarette sales to under 18-year-olds can also be banned under the
Bill |
Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt predicted that over 600,000 people will give up smoking following Tuesday's Commons vote to ban it in all enclosed work places in England, including public houses and private clubs.
Next month she will issue advice to the NHS and pharmacies on the range
of products on offer to help people kick the habit. A Department of Health
spokesman said: “Pharmacies will continue to play a leading role
in the anti-smoking strategy.”
MPs voted 453 to 125 to ban smoking in pubs and nightclubs across England.
They then voted 384 to 184 to extend the ban to members-only clubs. The
Health Bill will now go to the House of Lords but, given the size of
the Commons majority, it is unlikely to be watered down. The Bill is
on course to become law in July and will take effect from October 2007,
bringing England into line with Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Those caught lighting up in banned areas will suffer a fixed penalty
of £50; proprietors who fail to display no smoking signs face fines
of £200; and landlords who do not stop smoking on their premises
will be fined up to £2,500.The Bill also allows ministers to raise
the age for buying cigarettes from 16 to 18, and the department will
launch a consultation exercise.
The Royal Pharmaceutical Society welcomed news of the ban. President
Hemant Patel commented: “We have been lobbying for some time to
seek support from MPs for the Society’s position on a total ban
in public places. … It will ultimately save lives.” |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
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