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Frequently Asked Questions
Who produces the Smokefree Hertfordshire website and resources?
Smokefree Hertfordshire is produced by the Local Authorities within the county. More information is available on the Home page.
Can you send me leaflets, postcards or posters on a particular health topic?
We cannot send out resources related to particular topics, however we do have a number of downloadable resources available on this site. You can also find information about organisations that produce relevant resources in the resources in the links section. Many of these can be easily downloaded.
The Workplace and Smokefree Eating
When is smokefree legislation going to be implemented?
The legislation will be implemented on 1st of July 2007.
What is the aim of smokefree legislation?
The new law will protect the people in enclosed public places and workplaces from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
What does the new law do?
Smokefree legislation will mean that virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces will become smokefree. This means:
- it will be an offence to smoke in smokefree premises
- it will be an offence for managers of smokefree premises to permit others to smoke within the premises
- it will be an offence for managers of smokefree premises to not display necessary no-smoking signs at the premises
Is secondhand smoke really that harmful?
Secondhand smoke kills. The Government's independent Scientific Committee on Tobacco and Health concluded in 2004 that exposure to secondhand smoke contributes to a range of serious medical conditions, including:
- lung cancer
- heart disease
- asthma attacks
- childhood respiratory disease
- sudden infant death syndrome, and
- reduced lung function
In 2006, the US Surgeon General concluded that:
- secondhand smoke causes premature death and disease in children and adults who do not smoke
- children exposed to secondhand smoke are at an increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), acute respiratory infections, ear problems and more severe asthma. Smoking by parents causes respiratory symptoms and slows lung growth in children
- exposure of adults to secondhand smoke has immediate adverse effects on the cardiovascular system and causes coronary heart disease and lung cancer
- the scientific evidence indicates that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke
The World Health Organisation has classified secondhand smoke as a known human carcinogen. The US Environmental Protection Agency classified secondhand smoke as a "class A" human carcinogen along with asbestos, arsenic, benzene and radon.
What sort of smoking will smokefree legislation cover?
The legislation will cover 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 legislation, including cigarettes, pipes, cigars, herbal cigarettes and water pipes (including shisha, hookah and hubble-bubble pipes).
Will this include cigar loungers and water pipe (shisha, hookah, hubble-bubble) bars and cafes?
Yes, the legislation covers virtually all enclosed workplaces and public places, including cigar loungers and water pipe bars and cafes.
Some people say that smoking will be banned outdoors, like in the streets outside of pubs.
Smokefree legislation covers enclosed and substantially enclosed public places and workplaces.
The Health Act 2006 also includes powers to make non-enclosed places smokefree if there is "significant risk that, without designation, persons present there would be exposed to significant quantities of smoke". At present, the Government does not intend to make any non-enclosed place smokefree.
The Government is not taking away people's choice to smoke, but recognises that exposing others to secondhand smoke can seriously harm their health.
What is the definition of 'enclosed' and 'substantially enclosed'?
Enclosed - Premises will be considered to be enclosed if they have a ceiling or roof and, except for doors, windows or passageways, are wholly enclosed, whether on a permanent or temporary basis. Tents, marquees or similar will also be classified as enclosed premises if they fall within this definition.
Substantially Enclosed - Premises are substantially enclosed if they have a ceiling or roof, but there are permanent openings in the walls which are less than half of the total areas of walls, including other structures which serve the purpose of walls and constitute the perimeter of premises. This is known as the 50% rule.
When determining the area of an opening, no account can be taken of openings in which doors, windows or other fittings that can be open or shut.
A roof includes any fixed or movable structures, such as canvas awnings.
Why are ventilated smoking rooms not an alternative?
Evidence shows that ventilation does not provide a solution to eliminating the health risks associated with secondhand smoke. Scientists have shown that to remove the risks of secondhand smoke, an enclosed premises would need wind tunnel-like rates of ventilation, which would then make smoking nearly impossible.
You can read more about this in the joint 2003 report from the Health and Safety Authority and the Office of Tobacco Control in the Republic of Ireland titled The Health Effects of Environmental Tobacco Smoke in the Workplace.
How will smokefree legislation impact on the hospitality industry?
There is international evidence from countries that have introduced legislation for smokefree public places and workplaces that the overall impact of smokefree legislation on the hospitality industry is not detrimental. The Department of Health addressed the impacts of smokefree legislation in the Regulatory Impact Assessment that was published within Smokefree Premises and Vehicles: Consultation on proposed regulations to be made under powers in the Health Bill.
Importantly, smokefree legislation will be good for the health of hospitality workers and patrons. In June 2006, The British Institute of Innkeeping?s magazine said that:
"...we are talking about banning the use of a carcinogenic substance which in enclosed spaces kills or damages the health of passive smokers ? that means licensees and bar staff and customers. This is a scientific fact, and we should bear this in mind along with the economic arguments"
What support is available for people deciding to quit smoking?
The NHS provides a wide range of excellent and easily accessible smoking cessation services including; local NHS Stop Smoking Services, The Together Programme, and Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) available on prescription.
Business owners, employers and individuals are encouraged to contact NHS if they would like advice on supporting staff who would like to quit. Call NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 0169, or visit www.gosmokefree.co.uk
Has the introduction of smokefree legislation been successful in other countries?
Across the world, as the evidence of the risks associated with secondhand smoke exposure has accumulated, action has been taken to reduce people's exposure to secondhand smoke.
Ireland (2004), Norway (2004), Scotland (2006), New Zealand (2004), Singapore and various Canadian territories and Australian States are examples of places which have introduced comprehensive smokefree legislation (including smokefree pubs, bars and restaurants).
In America, California has had state-wide smokefree public places since 1998 and New York City passed smokefree legislation in 2003. In total, over nine US states have smokefree legislation that required completely smokefree restaurants and bars.
This legislation has proved to be effective in protecting people from the health risks of secondhand smoke. Research published in The Journal of the American Medical Association found rapid and significant improvement in respiratory health of bartenders after the implementation smokefree workplace legislation in California.
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