DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
News Release (01070801) issued by The Government News Network on 1
July 2008
NEW REPORT SHOWS
BENEFITS TO HEALTH
More people are trying to quit smoking, the air in pubs and bars
is cleaner and rates of compliance with smokefree laws remain
high, according to a new survey looking at the first year of
Smokefree England, published today.
The report Smokefree England: One Year On summarises key findings
from businesses, health workers and the public regarding the
Smokefree legislation which was introduced one year ago today.
The key findings are:
One year on Smokefree legislation has been a big success and
changed lives - including healthier environments for people whose
jobs exposed them to second hand smoke.
Smokefree England has extensive public support - 76 per cent of
people and 55 per cent of smokers reporting that they supported
the law; and 98 per cent of all premises and vehicles that were
inspected comply with the law
Exposure for bar workers to hazardous secondhand smoke has been
reduced by 76 per cent. Prior to smokefree legislation,
non-smoking bar workers were found to be inhaling up to six times
as much cigarette smoke as the average non-smoker
Compliance rates are high: 98 per cent of all premises and
vehicles inspected were smokefree in accordance with the law.
Smokefree law has created a more supportive environment to help
smokers quit the habit with a 22 per cent increase in the number
of people quitting with local NHS Stop Smoking Services compared
to the same period in 2006/07 between April and December last year.
Minister for Public Health, Dawn Primarolo said:
"We introduced this law one year ago to cut people's
exposure to secondhand smoke. It's clear the law is working.
Bar workers are inhaling far less smoke and most people think the
law has had a positive effect on the country's health.
"This could not have been done without the tireless work and
support of local authorities, business and health campaigners. I
also commend smokers themselves for their willingness to protect
the health of others by so readily complying with the law".
TUC General Secretary Brendan Barber said:
"The implementation of smokefree law in the workplace was
one of the biggest occupational health measures for decades. It
was estimated that every year up to 700 workers were killed by
having to breathe other people's tobacco fumes. That is
going to mean, in future, 700 lives will be saved every single year."
The Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson said:
"A year ago today in England, we took one of the most
important steps forward in public health for many years. One year
on and the smokefree law has been accepted by the general public
and businesses alike.
"We must do more if we are to continue to reduce the harm of
tobacco use in our communities. Measures such as the introduction
of picture pack warnings this autumn and the current consultation
on the future of tobacco control are essential to keep up the
momentum to create a truly smokefree future". Professor
Robert West, Cancer Research UK's director of tobacco studies
based at UCL, presented findings yesterday from the Smokers'
Toolkit Study at the UK National Smoking Cessation Conference in
Birmingham. Results show that the smokefree law in England has
helped more smokers to quit than ever before and will help prevent
an estimated 40,000 deaths over the next 10 years.
In 2007 the age of sale of tobacco was increased from 16 to 18
years and hard hitting picture warnings will appear on all tobacco
products produced for the UK market from 1 October 2008.
Notes to editors:
The report Smokefree England - One Year On can be found at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/tobacco
The bar workers statistics are interim results from the academic
study: 'Smokefree Bars 07', that can be downloaded at:
http://www.dh.gov.uk/tobacco.
Full details of other elements of the study, extending through to
summer 2008 will be presented in the final report in autumn 2008.
Smoking is estimated to cause 87,000 deaths in England alone each
year, the equivalent of the population of Durham. This means that
smoking is the leading cause of preventable death in England.
Reducing smoking prevalence remains a public health priority.
The Department of Health's Consultation on the future of
tobacco control is a full public consultation that will be open
for responses from any interested parties until 8 September 2008.
The consultation can be downloaded at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/liveconsultations
Visit
http://info.cancerresearchuk.org/news/archive/pressreleases/ to
access the Cancer Research UK press release.
6. For more information on the UK National Smoking Cessation
Conference taking place in Birmingham please visit http://www.uknscc.org