100 days until Northern Ireland goes smoke-free
On Saturday 20 January 2007 there will be just 100 days until all enclosed and substantially enclosed public places and workplaces in Northern Ireland go smoke-free.
On Monday 30 April 2007 the smoke-free legislation becomes law, and the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA) ’Space to breathe’ campaign is running until then to raise awareness of the legislation and encourage support from the public and businesses across Northern Ireland.
Victoria Creasy, Senior Manager for Public Health at the HPA, said: “There are just 100 days until all enclosed and substantially enclosed public places and workplaces in Northern Ireland will be smoke-free. The health benefits of this new law will be hugely significant. Where smoke-free legislation has been introduced in other countries there has been a reduction in the short-term effects of second-hand smoke and an improvement in the quality of the working environment.
“The aim of this legislation is to protect workers and the public from the deadly effects of second-hand smoke and we are encouraging the public and businesses to start preparing now. An information leaflet will be distributed through the regional press over the next few days and as we get closer to the implementation date additional information and advice will be provided to workplaces.”
Manus McConn, joint owner of Conor’s and Green’s restaurants in Belfast, which has been smoke-free since March 2004, welcomed the change in legislation. He said: “We went smoke-free almost three years ago mainly to protect the health of our staff. Business has greatly improved in both restaurants since we went smoke-free and additional costs incurred due to smoking, such as repainting, have halved. An added bonus has been that a number of our staff quit smoking since we brought in the changes.”
Health Minister Paul Goggins said: “From 30 April the general public and employees will be protected by law from exposure to tobacco smoke in enclosed and substantially enclosed public places and workplaces. I am delighted at the level of public support for the measures we are introducing and am confident that they will contribute to an improvement in public health.”
The campaign website www.spacetobreathe.org.uk provides detailed information about the legislation, including guidance, facts about second-hand smoke and health and giving up smoking.
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For media enquiries contact:
Rosie McGaughey or Jenny Dougan at the HPA on Tel: 028 9031 1611.
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