NI minister launches campaign over public smoking

People in the North have just one month to say if they support a ban on public smoking, they were told today.

Northern Ireland Office Health Minister Angela Smith launched a newspaper advertising campaign urging people to have their say on three options proposed by the British government.

The public has until March 25 to say whether they want:

:: A total ban on smoking in all public places and workplaces.

:: A partial ban which would forbid smoking in most enclosed public places and workplaces, except pubs which do not serve food.

:: The existing policy encouraging the voluntary introduction of smoke-free public places.

The minister said her officials wanted people to respond to the adverts by either writing to her department or sending their views online through its website.

“Smoking is the single greatest cause of preventable illness and premature death in Northern Ireland, and claims almost 3,000 lives here each year,” she said.

“The government is consulting on strengthening existing controls on tobacco use in Northern Ireland.

“I would encourage the public to make their views known to the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety before the March 25 deadline.”

The Republic introduced a total ban in March of last year, with Norway, Italy, New Zealand and Cuba following suit.

Cigarette sales in the Republic have dropped 17% since the ban and the Government also said earlier this month that about 7,000 people quit smoking between November 2003 and April 2004.

Last December, Belfast city councillors backed a motion calling on the British government to introduce a Northern Ireland-wide ban.

The British Medical Association and the Ulster Cancer Foundation also favour a total ban.

Earlier this month, Junior Minister for Health Sean Power said he believed a ban on public smoking north of the border would be a good idea.

“There may be some resistance as there was in the south but I think we have all seen that the health and social benefits far outweigh everything,” he said.

A survey carried out by an educational website last month showed almost 85% of children in the North between 11 and 16 backed a ban on smoking in public places.