The UK smoking ban
Like it or not, smoking will be banned in all public indoor spaces in the UK by summer 2007. Different areas of the country will be affected at varying times - The smoking ban is under attack for not taking into account ethnic traditions and customs.
Under the new law, restaurants are banned from offering customers shisha pipes, an age-old Arab custom of smoking flavoured tobacco in a water pipe.
Smoke-free (Premises and Enforcement) Regulations and Smoke-free (Signs) Regulations for England come into effect at 6am on Sunday 1st July 2007. From this date smoking will no longer be permitted in any enclosed or substantially enclosed premises or vehicles that are open to the public including pubs, restaurants and all places of work (some exceptions apply including designated smoking rooms in hotels or residential nursing homes).
Should these regulations be contravened individuals can face on-the-spot fines of £50 which can rise to up to £1000 should the issue be brought to court. Employers/managers of the premises can also face a fine of £200 — this figures can rise to as much as £2500 if not paid within the correct timeframe.
The UK smoking ban follows similar decisions made in several parts of Europe the USA. If you're a smoker in protest over the British ban, count your lucky stars you don't live in the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan, where the sale and use of tobacco is completely outlawed.
Where will smoking be banned?
Smoking in all indoor public places will be banned. Many places - such as cinemas and public transport - have rarely permitted smoking in recent years, and so it will be places like pubs, restaurants, nightclubs and private members' clubs that feel the biggest impact of the ban.
Where will you be able to smoke?
You'll still be allowed to light up outdoors, in the home or places considered to be 'homes', such as prisons, care homes and hotels.
Smoking could still be banned at certain outdoor locations that are 'substantially enclosed', such as football grounds and railway platforms. No decision has yet been made on smoking inside cars carrying passengers.
What will happen if I'm caught fag-in-hand?
If you're caught smoking in a banned area you could be fined £50.
But who's really going to care if I light up a sneaky one?
Those in charge of the premises would be fools to let you get away with it, especially considering that they could face a £2,500 fine if they fail to stop you. They could also be charged on-the-spot fines of £200 if they fail to display no-smoking signs, with the penalty increasing to £1,000 if the issue goes to court.
When will the ban come into force?
This depends on the area of the UK:
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England - July 1, 2007
The initial plans for a partial ban in England were binned because Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt felt it was impractical and wouldn't offer enough protection from passive smoking for workers in places such as bars and clubs.
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Scotland - March 2006
It's hoped that the ban will have a very positive impact on the Scottish nation, since smoking here is attributable to a shocking one in four of all deaths.
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Wales - April 2, 2007
The UK government allowed Wales to decide on its own smoking ban, despite the fact that the Welsh Assembly isn't normally given such wide-ranging powers. Wales was actually the first part of the UK to vote for a full smoking ban.
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Northern Ireland - April 30, 2007
Three years after the Republic of Ireland's total ban, Northern Ireland is following suit. No-one has a right to subject colleagues and workmates to the dangers and hazards of second-hand smoke," says its Health Minister Shaun Woodward.
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