Pollution control - smoking in enclosed public places
Smoke-free premises and vehicles
The smoke-free provisions of the Health Act 2006 will come
into force on 1 July 2007. From this date
virtually all workplaces and substantially enclosed public areas in
England will become smoke-free by law. This will include offices,
factories, shops, pubs, bars, restaurants, membership clubs, public
transport and work vehicles that are used by more than one
person.
The law will also mean that indoor workplace smoking rooms
will disappear. Anyone wanting to smoke will have to go outside
instead.
From 1 July 2007, all smoke-free premises and vehicles will be
required to display no smoking signs. Guidance on signage and
specifications for where signs will need to be displayed will be
made available once the regulations have been finalised. The
Department of Health will make free no-smoking signs widely
available in the lead up to the new law coming into place.
Those who do not comply with the law will be liable to a fine
or prosecution for:
- smoking in a smoke-free place;
- failing to display a no smoking sign;
- allowing smoking in a smoke-free place or vehicle.
The Department of Health has produced comprehensive guidance
detailing all elements of the legislation, making clear to
employees what they need to do between now and 1 July to ensure
they are compliant. The guidance and signs will be mailed to
1.7 million employing businesses in England during April.
Ryedale District Council and North Yorkshire and York Primary Care
Trust have published a series of fact sheets for employers
outlining what the new law means for them.
Factsheets are available for businesses, pubs, working men's
clubs, restaurants, cafes and other food businesses, taxis and mini
cabs, private hire cars, residential homes and hospices, hair
salons and barbers. There is also a factsheet for the general
public outlining what they can expect in regard to smoking in
workplaces and enclosed public places. The factsheets are
available from Smoke Free
(Yorkshire & Humber).
To register your business to obtain a copy of the guidance and
supporting material and signs you can either call The Smokefree
England Information Line on 0800 169 169 7 or visit Smoke Free England.
The NHS can work with businesses that would like to support
their employees who want to give up smoking and offers the
following free quitting services:
Local NHS Stop Smoking Services: call the NHS Smoking Helpline
free on 0800 169 0 169 to find
your local service. Smokers who want to quit can also find details
of their local NHS Stop Smoking Service by visiting Giving Up Smoking or
text "GIVE UP" and their full postcode to 88088 or ask at your
local GP practice, pharmacy or hospital.
For further information and advice contact 01653
600666 ext 254 or email
Environmental Health Services.
Document Links
Fact Sheets
What
it means for you and me (PDF, 72k).
What it means
for restaurants, cafes and other food businesses (PDF,
71k).
Public Houses (PDF,
74k).
Businesses (PDF,
73k).
Company Vehicles (PDF,
69k).
Hair Salons (PDF,
41k).
Hotels and B &
Bs (PDF, 74k).
General Public (PDF,
41k).
Residential Homes (PDF,
41k).
Schools (PDF, 136k).
Working Men's Clubs
(PDF, 82k).
Churches (PDF,
85k).
Useful Links
Government
Office for Yorkshire & The Humber.
Smoke Free England.
Giving Up Smoking.