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03/07/2003
CMO backs ban on smoking in public places
The Chief Medical Officer has called for a total ban of smoking in public places in his annual report, published today.
In a weighty report, Sir Liam Donaldson said that the move was necessary moves to make public places smoke-free will "both eliminate the health risks and lead to more people giving up smoking".
He added: "More and more major employers are appreciating the benefits of smoke-free policies: cuts in sickness absenteeism, fire insurance costs, maintenance cost for redecoration of premises and unscheduled work breaks by smokers.
"Going smoke free also represents an opportunity for pubs, bars and restaurants to attract new customers; as well as fully protecting the health of their employees."
In an Office for National Statistics (ONS) report, published alongside Sir Liam's findings, nearly nine-out-of-10 people said that they would back a widespread ban of smoking in public.
The report found that 88% of people want restrictions on smoking in restaurants, and 86% thought there should be restrictions on smoking at work, 87% in other public places such as banks and post offices, while over half thought it should be restricted in pubs.
The survey on smoking behaviour and attitudes is the latest in a series carried out as part of the ONS Omnibus survey on behalf of the Department of Health.
The surveys were designed to explore views on passive smoking, smoking restrictions and giving up smoking.
Seven out of 10 smokers said they would like to give up smoking (compared with 72% in 2001, 71% in 2000 and 72% in 1999), and 51% said they intended to give up smoking within the next 12 months.
A third of smokers who had given up for more than a day in the past year, said they had started again because they found life too stressful. Heavy smokers were nearly twice as likely to say that they found life too stressful (48% of those who smoke 20 and over a day compared with 26% of those who smoked fewer than 10).
Smoking kills 120,000 people each year in the UK. In England 27% of adults now smoke, although this is down from a high of 40% in 1978.
The overall rate hides major societal differences; 32% of manual workers smoke compared with 21% of those in non-manual occupations; 28% of men smoke while the figure for women is 25%; smoking in pregnancy now stands at 19%; and 10% of 11-15 year olds are regular smokers.
(GMcG)
In a weighty report, Sir Liam Donaldson said that the move was necessary moves to make public places smoke-free will "both eliminate the health risks and lead to more people giving up smoking".
He added: "More and more major employers are appreciating the benefits of smoke-free policies: cuts in sickness absenteeism, fire insurance costs, maintenance cost for redecoration of premises and unscheduled work breaks by smokers.
"Going smoke free also represents an opportunity for pubs, bars and restaurants to attract new customers; as well as fully protecting the health of their employees."
In an Office for National Statistics (ONS) report, published alongside Sir Liam's findings, nearly nine-out-of-10 people said that they would back a widespread ban of smoking in public.
The report found that 88% of people want restrictions on smoking in restaurants, and 86% thought there should be restrictions on smoking at work, 87% in other public places such as banks and post offices, while over half thought it should be restricted in pubs.
The survey on smoking behaviour and attitudes is the latest in a series carried out as part of the ONS Omnibus survey on behalf of the Department of Health.
The surveys were designed to explore views on passive smoking, smoking restrictions and giving up smoking.
Seven out of 10 smokers said they would like to give up smoking (compared with 72% in 2001, 71% in 2000 and 72% in 1999), and 51% said they intended to give up smoking within the next 12 months.
A third of smokers who had given up for more than a day in the past year, said they had started again because they found life too stressful. Heavy smokers were nearly twice as likely to say that they found life too stressful (48% of those who smoke 20 and over a day compared with 26% of those who smoked fewer than 10).
Smoking kills 120,000 people each year in the UK. In England 27% of adults now smoke, although this is down from a high of 40% in 1978.
The overall rate hides major societal differences; 32% of manual workers smoke compared with 21% of those in non-manual occupations; 28% of men smoke while the figure for women is 25%; smoking in pregnancy now stands at 19%; and 10% of 11-15 year olds are regular smokers.
(GMcG)
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