25/06/2007

Smokers in final bid to curb ban

Smokers' rights campaigners are making a final stand against the smoking ban, which will come into effect in England on July 1, by urging the government to make some exceptions for private clubs and pubs.

Smokers' lobby group Forest is calling for the legislation to be amended in order to allow some pubs and private members clubs' to provide smoking areas.

The group is holding a 'Revolt in Style' dinner at London's Savoy Hotel tonight, which will be hosted by celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson and will have 400 guests, including politicians and celebrities.

Forest director Simon Clark is expected to tell the guests: "We have lost the battle, but we haven't lost the war", and urge the government to allow some pubs and private members clubs to be allowed to have designated smoking areas.

Mr Clark will say: "Britain is developing into a nanny state. When you leave school you are considered to be an adult. You should be mature enough to make informed choices about eating, drinking, smoking and other activities that give you pleasure but involve a degree of risk."

Claire Fox, Director of the Institute of Ideas, will say: "It is a sign of our small-minded times when the most exciting new idea to come out of politics is banning smoking."

Smoking will be banned in nearly all enclosed public places and workplaces in England, including pubs, restaurants, offices, factories and shopping centres, from Sunday.

Bans are already in place in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

(KMcA)


Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

22 June 2004
Smokers die 10 years younger, according to long-term study
On average cigarette smokers die 10 years younger than non-smokers, but stopping at age 50 halves the risk, and stopping at 30 avoids almost all of it, according to a 50-year-long study of smoking and death among British doctors, published in this week's British Medical Journal (BMJ).
08 March 2007
Survey reveals 'secret smokers'
One in ten people are 'secret smokers' who try to keep their habit hidden, a new survey has revealed. The survey of 4,000 adults, commissioned by Boots, found that 52% of smokers had not told their parents about their habit, while a third had lied to their family, who believed that they had given up or never smoked at all.
31 May 2004
Ireland's smoking ban a 'success' says report
Ireland's Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) has reported that 97% of premises are complying with legislation calling for a smoking ban in the workplace. The research has also shown that levels of visits to pubs and restaurants remain constant with one-in-five smokers choosing not to smoke at all when socialising.
04 June 2004
Government is considering smoking ban, Blair reveals
The Prime Minister has revealed that the government is considering allowing local councils to ban smoking in public places. Mr Blair told BBC Breakfast that there was a difficult balance to be struck a 'nanny state' enforcing a banning order, and allowing local councils and individual businesses to choose how they want to approach the issue.
08 March 2006
Smoking ban 'deters smokers'
The threat of a smoking ban being introduced is encouraging smokers to give up the habit, a survey has suggested. Research conducted on behalf of Cancer Research UK found that a fifth of doctors reported an increase in patients seeking advice to help quit smoking since MPs voted in favor of a total ban in England last month.