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North Down Goes Smoke Free: 30 April 2007

23 January 2007

All of Northern Ireland’s bars, restaurants and businesses will be smoke-free zones come Monday 30 April and as the critical deadline gets closer there is good news for local companies who can now access advice and support from the new smoke-free environments officer, Joy Hanna, working in North Down and Ards. Joy will be visiting premises, holding seminars and developing materials to help businesses in both Boroughs prepare for the change in legislation and ensure their premises comply with the new law.

Joy comments, “The new legislation will have a very significant impact on businesses across Northern Ireland and will affect nearly all premises including offices, factories and hospitals, as well as public transport and work vehicles and also enclosed public spaces such as community and church halls. The experience of Scotland and the Republic of Ireland shows that businesses which are prepared for going smoke-free in advance of the legislation coming into force, find the transition much easier to manage. As such I, along with Environmental Health Officers in both Ards and North Down, will be working hard to help local businesses get the information they need to ensure they are ready for the change.”

The new legislation means that from Monday 30 April 2007 it will be against the law to smoke in enclosed and substantially enclosed workplaces and public places and in certain vehicles. Guidance on what is meant by ‘enclosed’ and ‘substantially enclosed’ is available from Environmental Heath. The law covers almost all workplaces including restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, theatres, bingo halls, church halls, leisure centres, shopping centres, schools, hospitals and all clubs. It also covers vehicles including lorries, vans, taxis and public transport.

The new law has been introduced to protect people from the proven health risks of second hand smoke including stroke, heart disease and lung cancer. Authorised officers employed by district councils will enforce the law and failure to comply may result in a fixed penalty fine or prosecution.

For further information on Northern Ireland's Smoke-Free Laws contact Environmental Health at North Down Borough Council on (028) 9127 0371.

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