England is Smoke Free

The Health Act 2006 containing the smoke-free legislation has come into force.

The law has been introduced to:

• Protect employees and the public from the harmful effects of second hand smoke
• Reduce the risks of health from exposure of second hand smoke.

Second hand smoke is a serious health hazard, and there is no safe level of exposure. Every time someone breathes in second hand smoke, they breathe in over 4,000 chemicals, 50 are known to cause cancer.

The legislation covers virtually all enclosed and substantially enclosed public places and workplaces, including shops, offices, factory, 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.

All smokefree premises and vehicles should be displaying no-smoking signs. Specific details of the signage and specifications for signs that will need to be displayed can be found on the smokefree England website, Smoke Free England.

Those who do not comply with the new legislation will be liable to a fine or prosecution if found smoking in a smokefree place or vehicle, or allowing people to smoke in a smokefree place or vehicle. Failing to display the correct no smoking signs could also lead to a fine or prosecution.

Officers from Environmental Health seek to ensure compliance with the legislation by way of education for all businesses about the requirements of the new legislation.

Anyone wishing to find out more information should contact the Customer Services Centre on 01795 424341 or visit the Smoke Free England website.

A good time to quit smoking?

Around 70% of smokers say they want to quit. The good news is that there is lots of support available and it's never too late to stop.

You are four-times more likely to succeed in giving up smoking if you get professional help and there are websites where you can get advice, including:

• Smoke Free - Online resource for all advice, information and support you need to stop and stay stopped
• NICE - An independent organisation responsible for providing national guidance on promoting good health
• Department of Health - The Department of Health aim is to improve the health and wellbeing of people in England
• Action on Smoking Health - Public health charity to eliminate the harm caused by tobacco

If you would like to speak to someone you can call the NHS Smoking Helpline between 7am - 11pm on 0800 1690 169 or QuitLine on 0800 002 200.