Scottish smokers stub out last cigarettes ahead of pub smoking ban
Nov 16, 2006, 17:32
|
|
LONDON (AFP) - Smokers in Scotland held farewell-to-smoking parties in pubs and restaurants, just hours before the first smoking ban in the United Kingdom comes into force. Sunday it will be an offence to smoke in nearly every enclosed public place in Scotland, enforced by a 50-pound (72 euros, 87 dollars) fine imposed immediately."This historic law will save thousands of lives," said Professor Alex Markham, chief executive of Cancer Research United Kingdom. "Most smokers want to quit. And the ban gives them a golden opportunity to stop smoking for good."Exempt from the ban are designated rooms in some workplaces, including in adult care homes, hospices, offshore installations and submarines. Smoking will also be allowed in police detention rooms and in designated hotel bedrooms.The ban in Scotland follows that by trailblazer Ireland as well as Italy, Norway, Malta, Spain and Sweden. England and Northern Ireland are due to implement similar bans next year. Wales is also to follow suit.Many bars, clubs and restaurants held parties bidding farewell to smoking as they prepared for the biggest change in Scottish public health policy in decades.One pub landlord in the northeastern port city of Aberdeen marked the event by holding an eve-of-ban "wake" with an "Ashtrays to Ashes, Dust to Dust" ceremony, according to Britain's domestic Press Association news agency.George Robertson, 61, who runs the Grampian Bar, said he would ask customers to throw their cigarette butts and all ashtrays into a coffin-style box at midnight.A final cigar dinner will be held at the private-members only Western Club in Glasgow, which was founded in 1820, the Press Association said.Almost 300 businesses across Scotland have lodged planning applications this year alone for shelters, canopies or beer gardens to make last-minute alterations in the run-up to the ban.Any business which does not take steps to prevent smoking on its premises or which fails to display "No Smoking" signs faces a 200-pound penalty but could be left with a final bill of up to 2,500 pounds if the initial penalty is not paid.The Scottish Executive has set new targets to reduce the number of adult smokers by almost 186,500 by 2010 and record numbers of Scots are said to be preparing to quit when the ban comes into force.It is estimated that tobacco use kills about 13,000 Scots annually and that passive smoking claims 1,500 and 2,000 lives every year in Scotland.Smokers' groups have condemned the Executive, accusing ministers' of misleading the public over the health impact and economic costs.The Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA), which had called for a partial ban, fears 140 pubs could close and 2,500 jobs may be lost.
© Copyright 2006 by DiscountCigarettesBox.Com
Top of Page
|
Bond Cigarettes
