MUCH of the debate on the proposed ban on smoking in the workplace has focused on either the economic impact of days lost at work due to episodic illness or the incidence of lung cancer due to environmental tobacco smoke and smoking.

WE applaud the Minister for Health and Children, Micheál Martin, for his plan to ban smoking from the workplace from January 1 next.

DOCTORS have been given guidelines to help rid hospital wards and A&E departments of patients with alcohol problems.