Government urged to ban smoking in public

Thursday, 3 July 2003 12:00 AM

The Chief Medical Officer has called on the Government to ban smoking in public places.

Sir Liam Donaldson said that the ban would represent a 'major assault on tobacco's long reign as the major killer in this country'. His comments come just days after doctors also urged the government to outlaw smoking in public places.

He has suggested a ban for all workplaces and enclosed spaces, including bars and restaurants. Smoking kills over 120,000 people a year in the UK and second hand smoke contains 50 known or suspected cancer causing agents and 100 chemical poisons.

'The majority of people in England are non-smokers and object to others smoking near them. International experience has shown that the way to rapidly and successfully tackle the health risks from second-hand smoke is to take action on smoking in public places,' he said.

It is estimated that some three million people in the UK become passive smokers when they go to work, whilst a further one million are exposed 75 per cent of the time.

Cancer Research UK has welcomed the call for a ban. It says that 'big tobacco' have long feared action on second hand smoke.

Jean King, Cancer Research UK's Director of Tobacco Control explained: 'The public understands the damage that smoking can do and is becoming aware of the risks of second hand smoke. All over the world countries are adopting bans on smoking in public spaces - protecting children in the home, safeguarding employees at work and encouraging smokers to quit.'

There is believed to be a high level of public support for a ban and similar ones are already in operation in France and the US.

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