Press Releases

Just a month to go until Ealing becomes smokefree (PR 992)

 The countdown is on as Ealing - and the rest of England - prepares to go smokefree in just one month.

At 6am on 1 July, a new will law will come into force making it illegal to light up inside all pubs, clubs, bars, cafes, restaurants, shops, offices, workplaces, public halls, community centres – in fact almost every enclosed public place in the country.

Ahead of the national ban, Ealing Council has banned smoking in all of its public hire venues from today (1 June). Smoking was previously allowed in parts of some council-owned venues, including Ealing Town Hall, Acton Town Hall and Greenford Assembly Hall, when hired out for public events only.

Meanwhile, a staff No Smoking Day within the Council’s Perceval House headquarters earlier this week (30 May) gave employees an opportunity to find out more about the ban and receive free health advice. Cigarette butt pouches were distributed free to staff who smoke, to encourage responsible disposal of cigarette butt litter.  The timely event highlighted the one-month countdown to 1 July and yesterday’s World No Tobacco Day (31 May).
 
Councillor Nigel Sumner, Cabinet Member for Health and Well Being, said:
“The benefits of going smokefree are clear. It will create a healthier environment and allow everyone to socialise and work free from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.

“Local authorities have been charged with enforcing the new law and our focus will be on raising awareness and making sure residents and businesses understand what they need to do.

“We are giving special attention and support to the independent, smaller or at-risk businesses - like shisha restaurants and smaller pubs - that may not fully understand their responsibilities under the new legislation.

“We will also be urging smokers to take pride in their local environment and warning them that they risk a fine for littering if they drop their cigarette butts on the street.”

Making Ealing’s streets cleaner is one of the Council’s three priorities. The other two priorities are safer communities and providing value for money services.

Councillor Sumner added:  “Council offices have been smokefree since the early 1990s so the new law does not represent a major culture shift for our staff who already know not to smoke inside.

“However, we are actively taking all additional steps to comply, including the introduction of new signage, and our staff are being informed about every aspect of the new law, such as restrictions on smoking in work vehicles.”

Under the new law, enclosed public places will need to display an A5 sign at all entrances to remind visitors that it is against the law to smoke inside. Failure to do this could result in a fixed penalty of £200 (£150 if paid within 15 days) or prosecution with a maximum fine of £1,000.

According to the law, if the management or person in control fails to prevent smoking, they could be prosecuted and fined up to £2,500. People caught smoking in enclosed public places could be fined a fixed penalty of £50 (£30 if paid within 15 days), or face prosecution and a maximum fine of £200.


In addition to signage, businesses will also need to address other issues, such as the noise and cigarette butt litter that may be created by smokers moving outside. Planning permission may be required for any new outside shelters.
 
Business owners and staff will receive direct advice from the Council’s Environmental Health, Licensing and Trading Standards officers during routine and special visits.

For comprehensive information, advice and free signage visit www.smokefreeengland.co.uk or call 0800 169 169 7 between 8am and 9pm.

For planning advice on smoking shelters call Ealing Council on 020 8825 6600 or email customerservices@ealing.gov.uk. 

To talk to the Council about any other smokefree issues, call 020 8825 6666.

Notes for Editors:
· The government says the new law will result in the single biggest improvement in public health for decades.
· As an employer and the owner of buildings that can be hired by the public, the Council must also comply with the law and is taking all necessary steps, including introducing new signage at the entrances to all buildings.
· Until today (1 June), smoking was allowed in parts of some venues when hired out for public events only - eg Ealing Town Hall (Victoria Hall, Queens Hall, the Liz Cantel Room, Telfor Hall and Princes’ Hall), Acton Town Hall (the Main Hall), and Greenford Assembly Hall (Cyril Grant Room, Committee Room and Main Hall).
· Council offices have been smokefree since 1993 and Council staff know smoking is not allowed inside.
· Enforcement will follow government guidance; it will be non-confrontational, focused on raising awareness and understanding to ensure compliance. Enforcement officers will work closely with local businesses to build compliance through education, advice and support. Enforcement action will be considered only when efforts to encourage compliance have failed.
· The legislation covers the smoking of tobacco or anything that contains tobacco, or smoking any other substance, including manufactured cigarettes, hand-rolled cigarettes, pipes and cigars. This means that anything that is smoked is covered by smokefree law, including manufactured and hand-rolled cigarettes, pipes, cigars, herbal cigarettes and water pipes (including shisha, hookah and hubble-bubble pipes). The legislation covers virtually all enclosed workplaces and public places, including cigar lounges and water pipe bars and cafes.
· Smoking rooms at work or designated smoking areas in pubs and restaurants will no longer be allowed.
· If you’re a smoker and find the new laws give you new motivation to quit, you can get free help, advice and support from Ealing PCT’s Stop Smoking Service. Last year alone, the service helped 1,983 people to kick the habit. Don’t go it alone - call 0845 111 0155 or visit www.gosmokefree.co.uk.