Northern Ireland
The Northern Ireland government introduced legislation that would make all enclosed public places and workplaces, including restaurants and bars, 100% smokefree as of April 2007. If implemented, all bars and restaurants either north or south of the Irish border would be 100% free of secondhand smoke indoors.
| Smokefree News |
| NI challenge to smoking ban fails A Co Down man convicted of breaking the smoking ban in Northern Ireland has lost a legal challenge to the legislation. Chris Carter, 56, had likened the smoking ban to a fascist law in Nazi Germany. Mr Carter challenged the conviction, arguing that the smoking ban breached his human rights under European laws. Chris Carter, a security consultant was fined £1250 when he was convicted of lighting a cigarette in the council offices in Bangor. A High Court judge threw out the case saying it was utterly devoid of legal merit. ... Smoking ban battle hits hurdle Chris Carter, of the Smokers Rights Movement UK-Ireland, has been fighting the ban for two years after he became the first person in north Down to be issued with a penalty ticket for smoking in a public place. But in the Appeal Court in Belfast today Mr Carter, who is conducting his own case, was told that the court had not the power to compel Judge Grant to state his reasons in writing. Smoking debate sparks new row Smokers are being told to stub it out in their OWN homes before any visit by council staff. The move by Moyle District Council is designed to protect employees from exposure to second-hand smoke. The smoking ban, introduced in May 2006, covers all enclosed public places as well as the workplace. But the legislation did not include any reference to extending it to people's homes. The new policy in Moyle, which covers areas including Ballycastle, Cushendun and Bushmills, stipulates: "Where council employees are required to work or visit other premises that are not entirely smoke-free, all reasonable arrangements will be made to minimise exposure to second-hand smoke. ... 80% support smoke-free sports stadiums More than 80% of people attending sporting events last year support the idea of smoke-free stadiums, according to research published today. The study by the Ulster GAA, the Ulster Cancer Foundation and the Office of Tobacco Control found that 72% of smokers support the idea. ... Air cleaner as more quit smoking Air in public houses is cleaner and more people are trying to quit smoking, according to a review of Northern Ireland's smoke-free legislation. The review also found that compliance with the legislation remained high. Smoking is now banned in most enclosed work and public places and in vehicles such as buses and taxis. Nicotine levels in bars have fallen by 92% since the ban was introduced and there was also a 94% reduction in average fine air particulate levels. The report, Smoke-Free Legislation in Northern Ireland - A One Year Review, found that 97% of businesses respected the ban. Northern Ireland to Ban Smoking in Pubs, Restaurants (Update2) Northern Ireland will ban smoking in pubs and restaurants to reduce tobacco-related deaths in the U.K. province, emulating countries such as Ireland, Scotland and Italy. Smoking in all enclosed public places will be illegal as of April 2007, Shaun Woodward, Northern Ireland's health minister, said today in a statement. Woodward, who smoked a pack of cigarettes a day before giving up, had earlier this year considered a partial smoking ban. Lawmakers in Europe are cracking down on tobacco to promote health and cut the cost of treating smoking-related diseases, which kill about 650,000 European Union citizens every year. Ireland introduced the world's first countrywide ban on smoking in bars in March 2004, leading some smokers to travel across the border to drink in Northern Irish pubs. Northern Ireland must not be left behind on smoking ban Commenting on the confirmation that Wales will press ahead with a total ban on smoking in public places, BMA(NI) Public Health Committee Vice-Chairman, Dr Colin Hamilton, raised his concerns that Northern Ireland is in significant danger of being left behind. Dr Hamilton said: "The Welsh Health Minister has confirmed that Wales will have a total ban on smoking in public places. Scotland is introducing similar measures and the Republic of Ireland has had a ban in place for over a year now. Northern Ireland must not be left behind in protecting the health of workers and the general public... While we applaud the Minister's decision to implement some type of smoking ban, we would ask the Minister for Health to listen to the political parties, the public and the medical professionals. The message is clear. A total ban on smoking in public enclosed places is the only responsible option. The Minister must not wait until the Autumn, he must take action now to stop people dying from passive smoking." HPA calls for NI smoking ban The Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA) has called on Health Minister, Shaun Woodward, to ban smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces in the province. The call coincides with World No Tobacco Day on Tuesday and follows over 70,000 responses to the consultation on smoking, which ended in March by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety. Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive of the HPA, said: "Smoking is the single greatest preventable cause of premature death and avoidable illness and around 3,000 people die from smoking related diseases in Northern Ireland every year.
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