Should the UK smoking ban be extended?

On 1st July 2007 England followed Scotland and Wales in implementing a smoking ban, making the whole of the UK 'smoke free'. These smoking bans mean smoking in enclosed public spaces and workplaces, has been prohibited throughout the UK since this date. Part of this legislation placed a statutory requirement on those responsible for public buildings and workplace facilities, to display no smoking signs.


These mandatory no smoking safety signs are required to be at least A5 (150x200mm) in size and contain the text "No Smoking. It is against the law to smoke in these premises" Many people took advantage of the free signs supplied by the government 'smokefree England' campaign. You can see these standard safety signs at the main entrances of most UK public buildings and work premises. Work vehicles are also covered by the ban and alternative wording to cover this situation "No Smoking. It is against the law to smoke in this vehicle" is allowed.


Since this campaign has been so successful in reducing both the number of people actively smoking, and those effected by passive 2nd hand smoke - the government is now looking to extend the scope. Under proposals being reviewed by Andy Burnham, the Health Secretary, the smoking ban could be strengthened to include entrance-ways, pub gardens and other areas currently popular with smokers doggedly refusing to be put off.


Presumably if the extent of the ban were increased it would cover far more areas and aim to make it much harder to find somewhere that you are actually allowed to smoke. Areas which could be covered by this extension to the ban include:


Entrances to offices


Bus Shelters


Pub Gardens


Outside pubs / clubs and restaurants


Personal vehicles


Railway platforms


Public pavements


Public parks and gardens


Anywhere on hospital grounds


If all these areas are to be covered by any new regulations, and additional no smoking signage is required - those responsible for managing the effected facilities will have to think carefully about how this can be implemented. As there are already complaints in the media about the profusion of safety signs on display in the public environment - if this means new no smoking signs are required to be displayed - it will have to be done sensitively.


According to NHS figures - treating the effects of smoking costs some £2.7 billion a year and smoking is the primary cause of 80,000 deaths. Despite this arresting argument, there are still dissenters who think the current ban is draconian. Forest - the political lobbying group set up to oppose restrictions on smoking, say that "The current smoking ban, which has had a devastating impact on community pubs and clubs, is out of all proportion to the harm allegedly caused by second-hand smoke. Further restrictions will only accelerate that trend."


It will shortly be the third anniversary of the UK wide smoking ban - considering all the discussion prior to it's implementation - it's generally considered to have been effective. Since all the efforts to date seem to have had positive health effects on the population, The Department of Health won't stop it's war on the tobacco companies (and smokers) here. Having banned media advertising & smoking in public - the next logical stages are to prevent cigarettes using branded packaging and then extending the coverage of the smoking ban.


Many people believe, that in years to come we'll look back at these arguments and wonder why smoking was not only allowed, but was in fact, a popular activity!