Saturday 1 July 2017 marks the tenth anniversary of all workplaces in England and Wales, including pubs and restaurants, becoming smokefree.
Smokefree legislation – The Health Act – came into force in 2007. It outlawed smoking in workplaces including pubs and restaurants and there was a swift reduction in hospital admissions for heart attack and childhood asthma. The smokefree law, and the campaign that supported it, also helped to change attitudes and behaviour on smoking. An extra 300,000 smokers were inspired to make a quit attempt as the law came into force.
Despite initial concerns from the tobacco industry, the legislation was widely complied with from the start, and concerns that the smokefree law would result in pubs closing down were unfounded, Evidence also indicates that the smokefree law did not result in increased rates of smoking at home, and childhood exposure to smoke decreased in the years following the legislation.
“The Health Act was one of the most important public health reforms in generations,” said County Councillor Caroline Dickinson, Executive Member for Public Health. “Ten years on, support for the legislation is very high, and thousands of individuals have been protected from the deadly effects of second hand smoke.
“The passing of the Health Act has helped to cut smoking rates to an all-time low, with only 13% of people smoking in North Yorkshire. It has also set the scene for further smokefree legislation, including plain packaging, banning smoking in cars, limits on displaying tobacco and prohibiting sales of tobacco from vending machines.
“However, there is still work to do to achieve our ambition of a smokefree generation by 2025. Smoking remains the leading cause of preventable premature death, and there are still around nine million smokers in the UK. Quitting smoking is the best thing you can do for your health and to protect those around you.”
Smokers who use a Stop Smoking Service to quit are four times more likely to be successful than those who try without support. Smokers who live or work in North Yorkshire can access free stop smoking advice and support at Smokefreelife North Yorkshire by calling 01609 663023 or texting QUIT to 66777. The service is funded by North Yorkshire County Council.