UCF welcomes smokefree Scotland

Leading cancer charity, the Ulster Cancer Foundation (UCF) has welcomed Scotland’s ban on smoking in enclosed public places which comes into effect at 6am on Sunday 26 March.

Scotland is the first part of the UK to go smokefree and joins the growing international movement to control the damage tobacco does to health.

Gerry McElwee, Head of Cancer Prevention at UCF said: ”The case for reducing exposure to second-hand smoke to improve health is now indisputable, with second hand smoke being associated with up to 1,000 deaths a year among lifelong non-smokers in Scotland alone.

“The comprehensive nature of Scotland’s legislation will not only help smokers to give up, but it will also protect the health of employees who should not be exposed to cancer-causing substances in the line of duty.”

UCF has been campaigning for the introduction of smokefree workplaces in Northern Ireland for more than 30 years. They were delighted with the Health Minister, Shaun Woodward’s 17 October 2005 announcement that comprehensive controls on smoking in enclosed workplaces and public places would be introduced In Northern Ireland by April 2007 to protect employees and the public from exposure to second-hand smoke.

The Health Minister recently launched an eight week public consultation period on the proposal for a draft Smoking (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 which provides an opportunity for local people to comment on the wording and effect of the draft Order.

The public can have their say on the degree of protection local workers will have from second hand smoke, a known human (class A) carcinogen.

The consultation areas include: a definition of smoking; the definition of smokefree premises; the extent of any proposed exemptions; offences and level of penalties and requirement for fixed penalties.

With the consultation period ending on 5 May, UCF are encouraging local employees to demand comprehensive smokefree workplaces to protect their health while at work.

(CD/SP)