Smokefree Policies In Europe

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The Stop Smoking Hypnosis People
On 1 January, Spain became the latest European country to ban
smokers from public places Here we look at the current state of
legislation in all 25 members of the EU Irish Republic Centuries
of tradition were overturned in March 2004 when smoking in bars
and all other workplaces was banned The measure was pushed
through by a crusading health minister in the teeth of
opposition from the politically powerful hospitality industry
Although controversial to begin with, smoke-free pubs and other
workplaces quickly came to be regarded as the norm and the Irish
Republic has been visited by delegations from a number of other
countries contemplating anti-smoking moves
Northern Ireland A smoking ban encompassing all enclosed public
places – including pubs, restaurants and hotels – is due to come
into effect in April 2007 Smoking is already banned in
government offices and other institutions Making the
announcement last October, Northern Ireland Office minister
Shaun Woodward said: “No one has a right to subject colleagues
and workmates to the dangers and hazards of second-hand smoke
and passive smoking” He, of course, represents an English
constituency – where the proposed ban is much less complete
Although the Northern Ireland policy could be changed if a new
powersharing government is formed in Belfast, the expectation is
that it would go ahead as planned No major political party has
voiced opposition
England Of the four countries of the UK, England is the only one
going for a partial ban, due to be introduced in April 2007
This will permit smoking in pubs that don’t serve food It has
provoked widespread protests that it will be unworkable The
Government has promised a set of guidelines – but they are
unlikely to be simple
Scotland A complete ban on smoking in enclosed public places in
Scotland comes into effect at 6am on Sunday 26 March following a
unanimous decision by the Scottish Executive last November It
will be an offence – with a minimum penalty of £50 – to light
up, or allow others to do so, in ” no-smoking premises”, defned
as enclosed locations which are used by the public
Sweden All restaurants, bars and cafes are now smoke-free
Ventilated smoking rooms where food and drink is not served can
be set up
Denmark Under current legislation, smoking is only banned in
schools and government buildings open to the public Transport
and council services must have individual smoke-free policies
Germany Buses, underground trains, cinemas and theatres have
been no-go areas for smokers in Germany for more than 30 years
However a powerful tobacco industry and the fact that the Nazis
offcially frowned on smoking, have led post-war German
legislators to avoid the imposition of more Draconian measures
Mainline trains still have smoking carriages, for example
Last year the government reached a voluntary agreement with
restaurant and pub owners for the creation of limited no-smoking
areas in 30 per cent of all licensed premises
The partial smoking ban is scheduled to be extended to 90 per
cent of all pubs and restaurants by 2008 when owners are
requested to ensure that 50 per cent of their premises are
reserved for non smokers
Finland Smoking is completely banned in healthcare, educational
and government facilities, indoor workplaces and offices,
theatres, cinemas and public transports although separate areas
for smoking may be provided
Discussions are underway regarding a complete smoking ban and
new amendments to curb smoking in restaurants and prevent
employees being exposed to ambient tobacco smoke should come
into effect in summer 2006
Estonia The Tobacco Act of 2001, amended in 2004, imposes a
complete ban on smoking in healthcare, education and government
facilities, indoor offices and workplaces, as well as theatres
and cinemas although in all these areas special smoking areas
are permitted
Latvia From July the current smoking ban, which includes public
buildings and workplaces, will be extended to cafes, bars and
restaurants Designated smoking areas will be provided Smokers
who step outside for a cigarette will be subject to a ban on
lighting up within 10 metres of a public building
Lithuania Designated rooms are provided in all workplaces, as
well as in all health, educational and government facilities A
complete ban on smoking on public transport is enforced, but
long-distance trains and planes have smoking areas
Poland Smoking ban in force in workplaces and public buildings
No plans to extend this at present
Hungary Employers must provide adequate protection for
non-smokers Designated smoking areas may be provided A 1997
Child Protection Act also states that children have the right to
be protected from environmental hazards and substances harmful
to health
Belgium 2006 ushered in a complete smoking ban in all
workplaces From January 2007, a ban on smoking in restaurants
will be enforced
Luxembourg No current legislation, but there are moves to
introduce a complete ban on smoking in the workplace
The Netherlands A 2004 bill cut down on smoking in public places
and the government aims to reduce tobacco consumption by 80 per
cent by 2008 This year smoking rooms will be set up in eating
establishments, with the aim of phasing out smoking in public
Slovenia Smoking in hospitals and schools is prohibited
Slovakia A 1997 law requires employers to impose bans on smoking
in workplaces frequented by non-smokers
Czech Republic Smoking is banned on public transport and in
workplaces where non-smokers could be exposed to tobacco smoke
It is also forbidden to smoke in restaurants during breakfast,
lunch and dinner
Spain Three days after Spain introduced a law banning smoking at
work and in closed public spaces, there is a growing movement to
assert what many consider their inalienable right to smoke
Meanwhile, since 1 January, 25,000 people a day have sought
medical advice on how to stop
Petrol stations, news stands and shops that function as bars are
trying to circumvent the law that bans them from selling
cigarettes, and which has cut their income by up to 20 per cent
Spain’s 12,000 outdoor news vendors feel particularly aggrieved:
smoking is permitted in the open air, but sales of cigarettes
are confined to specialist tobacco shops (where you cannot
smoke)
Offces and factories are now smoke-free Offenders pay fines of
up to €600 (£414) and employers warn that time lost to
unauthorised “smoking pauses” will amount to 14 days a year per
smoker You can smoke in the open air and in bars and
restaurants smaller than 100 square metres Numerous small bars
in Spain have opted to become smokers’ refuges, generating a
worse fug than before
Larger bars and restaurants may demarcate a smoking section of
up to 30 per cent of the space, and have eight months to
complete the structural alterations This poses problems for
large wedding parties, where the father of the bride
traditionally hands out cigars to his guests (They can only
smoke in the smoking areas, where children are prohibited)
A massively oversubscribed government helpline reveals grey
areas that caused even officials to scratch their heads Can a
lorry driver smoke in his enclosed cab? (Yes, it’s not a “work
centre”) What about massage parlours? Yes, if rooms are
designated “smoking” Unexpected opposition has emerged from
women at the hairdressers, long accustomed to smoking under the
drier Now they must step into the streets, even in their
rollers
Portugal Total ban on smoking in public buildings, as well as on
public transport when journeys last less than an hour Partial
restrictions on smoking on aircraft are enforced
France The law on smoking in public places in France, dating
from 1991, is vaguely worded and unevenly applied The
anti-smoking lobby is pressing for much tougher rules,
comparable to those in Ireland and, now, Spain
Under Article 16 of the Loi Evin of January 1991 – which mostly
deals with restrictions on alcohol and tobacco advertising -
smoking is banned on all public transport and in “places used
collectively”, except in ” areas reserved for smokers”
The French railways, the SNCF, have gone further than the law
and abolished smoking carriages However, many bars and
restaurants interpret the law loosely and declare their whole
establishment to be an “area reserved for smokers”
Austria Austrian law, updated in 2003, prohibits smoking in
public buildings and transport, but not workplaces
Greece Public smoking is banned in many places but special
smoking areas are allowed Cafes, bars and restaurants must
allocate space for non-smokers
Malta Total ban in place since 2005 Bars, restaurants and cafes
that wish to allow smoking must provide enclosed areas The
government has the power to impose fines of up to €250 for
contravention
Italy An offcial ban on smoking in all enclosed public places
including bars, restaurants and offices came into effect in
Italy on 10 January, 2005 Since then the ban has led to an 8
per cent drop in cigarette consumption
There was some initial resistance from smokers and bar owners
But businesses face a fine of up to €2,000 (£1,395) if they fail
to ensure their customers do not smoke Smokers themselves can
receive a €275 (£191) fine
The law allows smoking only in sealed-off rooms with smoke
extractors, but only a few places have bothered to comply
Generally the law has been accepted
Smoking is still tolerated at cabinet meetings in the prime
minister’s office, where Defence Minister Antonio Martino, a
smoker since the age of 18, describes the habit as”a sacred
right”
Cyprus Smoking is currently banned in all public places
including entertainment venues, government buildings and on
public transport It is also banned in private cars carrying
passengers under 16, but remains regulated in workplaces wwwiwanttoquitsmoking
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The Stop Smoking Hypnosis People

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