Smoke-free England 'a success'
6 August 2007 00:00 in Industry related health news
The introduction of a ban on smoking in public places in England one month ago has been a success, the Department of Health (DoH) has said.
Figures released by the DoH show 97 per cent of premises inspected in the two weeks after the July 1st ban complied with the new law.
A total of 88,899 inspections, which includes 1,090 hotels, 6,783 restaurants and 9,568 licensed premises, have been carried out.
Although these figures only relate to the first two weeks of the smoking ban, the DoH claims they are already comparable to the high levels experienced during the first month of smokefree legislation in Scotland and Ireland.
Public health minister Dawn Primarolo said: "All the signs are that businesses and the public have taken the new law in their stride.
"These high levels of real protection from secondhand smoke in public places and workplaces are a testament to everyone involved. Efforts from enforcement officers in local authorities and businesses, especially those in the hospitality sector and also the public, have all contributed to making this country a healthier place in which to work and socialise."
Graham Jukes, chief executive of the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, said the organisation was "proud to have played a key role in the implementation of what has turned out to be popular legislation with a limited need for enforcement action to be taken".
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