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.

Mr Blair, himself a former smoker, said that there was "no doubt" that smoking damages health and that non-smokers would prefer to a smoke-free environment.

He said that there had to be "some local decision-making", hinting that the government would derogate a smoking ban from the Cabinet table to the council chamber.

Health campaign group Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) warmly welcomed Mr Blair's comments, adding that smoking was a blight on the nation's health. It is estimated that secondhand smoke in the workplace causes about 700 premature deaths every year.

The Royal College of Physicians conference on May 11 heard that exposure to secondhand smoke in the workplace kills one hospitality industry employee a week – the group most at risk from secondhand smoke.

Action on the issue has already been backed by the Scottish Executive, Northern Ireland’s major political parties, the Welsh Assembly, and many local Councils including Liverpool and Manchester, Ash said.

Ash Director Deborah Arnott said: "We would like to see an end to workplace smoking across the country. But new powers for local Councils to act in their own areas would be an important and very welcome step in the right direction. We hope to see a clear proposal for legislation in the public health White Paper due this Autumn.”

The Lib Dems called on the government to take decisive action and bring in a national ban on smoking in public places.

Lib Dems Shadow Health Secretary, Paul Burstow, said that there should be an all-embracing nationwide ban, not a "piecemeal" ruling for certain parts of the country.

"On straight public health grounds preventing smoking in public places would deliver a substantial health benefit. A ban would protect staff and customers from the effects of second-hand smoke, and would help many more kick the habit," he said.

The evidence for a ban in public places was overwhelming, and the time for action is now, he added.

However, the Tobacco Manufacturers' Association has urged the government to maintain voluntary regulation.

Tim Lord, Chief Executive of the Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association, claimed that "public opinion" backs the current voluntary approach.

He added: “The voluntary approach is working in the UK. Self-regulation is already providing more smoke-free places and the choice that the public wants. We believe that legislation is unnecessary and would replace successful, voluntarily adopted policies with oppressive and costly bureaucracy, criminalizing smokers and landlords."

We urge people who are in favour of moderation, freedom of choice and common sense, whether smokers or non-smokers, to speak up and influence the debate, he added.

A recent report from Mintel found that the majority (52%) of British adults favoured a total ban on smoking in public places. Attitudes vary considerably between smokers and non-smokers, with those who have never smoked (67%) being most likely to support the ban. Almost three in 10 (29%) smokers would also support this kind of ban.

Although the £80 million smoking cessation aids market continues to thrive, growing by some 60% in value terms between 1999 and 2003, exclusive consumer research finds almost seven in 10 (68%) smokers who want to give up believing that giving up smoking is all down to willpower.

Over a quarter (26%) of smokers who would like to quit do not believe that products such as nicotine gum and patches would help them stop smoking.

(gmcg)