Press release - 22 March 2007

100 day countdown to a smokefree Brighton and Hove

On Friday 23 March, Brighton and Hove will start a 100 day countdown to become a smokefree city.

Last year, Parliament passed a Health Act which decided that virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces in England should become smokefree.  This legislation comes into effect in Brighton and Hove at 6am on 1st July 2007.

Kate Lawson, Head of Health Promotion at Brighton and Hove City Teaching PCT said:

"The legislation will help protect employees and the public from the effects of secondhand smoke.  It’s clear that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke, which can cause a range of serious medical conditions including heart disease, lung cancer, sudden infant death syndrome and asthma attacks. 

"The introduction of smokefree environments will reduce the risks to health from exposure to secondhand smoke and recognise a person’s right to be protected from harm and enjoy smokefree air. It will also increase the benefits of smokefree places for people trying to give up smoking.  In England more than three out of four people already choose not to smoke and nearly three quarters of those who do smoke say that they want to give up". 

In Brighton and Hove the new legislation will cover virtually all enclosed and substantially enclosed public places and workplaces, including shops, offices, factories, pubs, restaurants, public transport, and work vehicles that are used by more than one person.  Indoor workplace smoking rooms will also disappear so anyone wishing to smoke will have to go outside instead.

From 1st July 2007 all smokefree premises and vehicles will also be required to display no-smoking signs.  Specific details on signage and specifications for where signs will need to be displayed will be included in the guidance.  No-smoking signs will be made freely available from the Department of Health.

Those who do not comply with the new legislation may be liable to a fine or prosecution if found smoking in a smokefree place or vehicle, failing to display a no-smoking sign or allowing smoking in a smokefree place or vehicle. Enforcement officers at the council will work closely with local businesses to build compliance through education, advice and support. 

A council spokesperson said:

"We have no plans to take the approach of extra police training to enforce the smoking ban. We already regularly inspect the city's licensed premises, and from the feedback we've had from the trade here, we believe they will be largely self - regulating with regards to the smoking ban because the vast majority are in favour of it.

"The government has given us some extra money, and with this we will be employing two extra staff to give them the information and communication support they are asking for. The trade is keen to work with us on this, and we do not envisage a big problem when the ban comes in”.

Once the details of the regulations have been finalised, businesses will be supplied with information and resources to help them to prepare for the new laws, including a copy of the final guidance. 

If you want information about how to prepare your business for the ban, or you are a smoker wanting to quit, there will be an information stall at Brighton  train station between 7.30am and 5.00pm on Friday 23 March. Alternatively visit the new smokefree website at www.smokefreeeastsussex.org.uk or call the Free NHS Stop Smoking service on 01273 267397.

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More information: Cat Tardif - 01273 545322