A new smoke-free law entered into force in England on 1 July 2007: it is now prohibited to smoke in virtually all "enclosed" and ’substantially enclosed’ public places and workplaces.
The main aim of the British government is to protect employees and the public from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.
Key points of the new legislation are:
Public transport and work vehicles used by more than one person must be smoke-free at all times.
No-smoking signs must be displayed in all smoke-free premises and vehicles.
Staff smoking rooms and indoor smoking areas are no longer allowed, so anyone who wants to smoke must go outside.
Managers of smoke-free premises and vehicles have legal responsibilities to prevent people from smoking.
The ban brings England into line with the rest of the UK. England is the last UK area to introduce a total smoking ban, after Wales and Northern Ireland in April and Scotland last March.
Source: http://www.epha.org/a/2709 |
