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09/03/2005
Majority support for smoking ban - NICHSA
A leading health charity says the Government will be flying in the face of public opinion if it fails to ban smoking in public buildings after its consultation exercise on the subject.
The Department of Health is currently asking for submissions on three options – a voluntary introduction of smoke-free workplaces; a halt to smoking in most public buildings, but with some pubs and clubs excepted; or a complete ban in all workplaces, including pubs and restaurants.
Speaking on No Smoking Day, Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke Association (NICHSA) Chief Executive Andrew Dougal said: “The consultation ends on the 25th of March, but we already know what the public would prefer. We have been inundated with calls asking for advice on how to take part in the consultation, and a MORI poll indicates that two thirds of the public would be in favour of a ban.”
The charity is also using National No Smoking Day on Wednesday to distribute postcards allowing people to make their views known.
“We expect to have thousands of people writing to the Department of Health in the next couple of weeks,” said Mr Dougal. “People want to be able to work in an atmosphere free of tobacco smoke, and it’s up to the Department to accede to that wish.”
MORI’s poll on the subject asked 1,029 people over the age of 16 for their views on the subject. It found that 69% of respondents were in favour of an outright ban. This figure rises to 80% among professionals and managers.
(MB)
The Department of Health is currently asking for submissions on three options – a voluntary introduction of smoke-free workplaces; a halt to smoking in most public buildings, but with some pubs and clubs excepted; or a complete ban in all workplaces, including pubs and restaurants.
Speaking on No Smoking Day, Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke Association (NICHSA) Chief Executive Andrew Dougal said: “The consultation ends on the 25th of March, but we already know what the public would prefer. We have been inundated with calls asking for advice on how to take part in the consultation, and a MORI poll indicates that two thirds of the public would be in favour of a ban.”
The charity is also using National No Smoking Day on Wednesday to distribute postcards allowing people to make their views known.
“We expect to have thousands of people writing to the Department of Health in the next couple of weeks,” said Mr Dougal. “People want to be able to work in an atmosphere free of tobacco smoke, and it’s up to the Department to accede to that wish.”
MORI’s poll on the subject asked 1,029 people over the age of 16 for their views on the subject. It found that 69% of respondents were in favour of an outright ban. This figure rises to 80% among professionals and managers.
(MB)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A rather cloudy morning, with a little patchy light rain or drizzle to start. Skies clearing and becoming dry and increasingly sunny in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 13 °C.Tonight:Dry with prolonged clear spells through the evening and overnight. This will allow for some fog patches to develop in places overnight. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
