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Smoking ban kicks in
• WEEKS into the implementation of what some are calling the most significant piece of health-related legislation of the new millennium – the smoking ban is still in the news.
After more than 400 years, smoking is now illegal in workplaces and enclosed public spaces in England and the government has given local authorities the task of enforcing the new rules.
So I am happy to report that Islington Council environmental health officers are reporting very few breaches of the workplace smoking ban, with almost 100 per cent of the 1,200 premises visited in compliance.
It’s a promising start and seems to support the joint work of the council, Islington Strategic Partnership and Islington Primary Care Trust in preparing for these important changes.
While the smoke-free rules are often self-enforcing where smoking was never allowed, the legislation does require premises managers to display no-smoking signs.
And they are responsible for making sure people do not light up on the premises – except in designated outdoor spaces.
It’s too early to say for sure if the smoking ban has already had the effect of reducing the number of smokers in Islington but from a public health perspective this would be welcomed.
Islington suffers from a higher-than-average illness and mortality rate – partly due to the larger percentage of smokers we have.
If you want to join the 2,000 Islington residents who quit the habit last year, there’s free help and advice on 0800 093 90 30 or visit www.smokefree
islington.nhs.uk and www.islington.gov.uk/
islingtonstrategicpartnership.
CLLR JOHN GILBERT
Lib Dem executive member for health and social services
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