Proposed Smoking Ban

L

Latefortheraces

At the Start
Joined
May 3, 2003
Messages
506
Location
Planet Zog... i think

Ministers plan eateries smoke ban

Ministers are planning to introduce a complete ban on smoking in eating establishments in England.
The White Paper on Public Health, being unveiled on Tuesday, will propose a ban in restaurants, offices and pubs that serve prepared food.

The document will also cover obesity, drinking and sexual and mental health.

Other plans include a traffic light coding system for food labels and a ban on junk food advertising before 9pm to protect children.


The Scottish Executive put forward a blanket ban on smoking last week but Health Secretary John Reid will not go that far.

Smoking will continue to be allowed in pubs which limit their food sales to bar snacks such as crisps, rather than prepared meals, under the long-awaited plans.


Expected public health reforms
Smoking to be banned in restaurants and offices, but only restricted in pubs
Ban on junk food advertising before 9pm
Traffic light coding for supermarket food
Improved access to sexual health clinics
Clearer labelling on alcohol
Access to 'personal lifestyle gurus' on the NHS


In the foreword to the white paper, the government will say it wants to create an environment in which people are encouraged to adopt healthy lifestyles.

It will say a large number of small changes can make a big difference.

But the white paper will say it is not the role of government to force people to become healthy.

A Department of Health spokesman said: "The principle of the white paper is to inform choice.

"People want to be able to make their own decisions but they want credible information."

He said the government wanted to see a concerted effort by individuals, councils, the NHS, business, advertising and the media to allow this.

'Traffic light coding

The white paper has been drawn up after one of the largest public consultations involving 150,000 people over the summer.

The Department of Health received more than 1,000 submissions from individuals alone - unheard of for a white paper.


A traffic light coding system would be designed to make it easy for shoppers to assess how healthy the food they are buying is. It would work by labelling foods high in fat, sugar and salt as red.


Healthy foods that can be eaten in abundance would get a green sticker.

But it would be up to supermarkets to decide whether to introduce it. Some are already drawing up their own codes.

Warnings could be introduced on alcohol drinks setting out how many units they contain.

GPs should also be allowed to refer patients to "personal lifestyle gurus" and access to sexual health clinics has to be improved, the white paper is expected to say.

But the reforms are unlikely to impress campaigners, who had called for more radical measures.

'Utterly disappointed

The British Medical Association (BMA), which has called for a complete ban on alcohol advertising and smoking in public places, welcomed the traffic light coding proposals.

But Dr Vivienne Nathanson, head of science and ethics at the BMA, said: "We are utterly disappointed that it appears that [Health Secretary] John Reid will not be introducing a total ban on smoking in enclosed public places.

"If this is the case, he will be letting down every infant, child and adult in England."

Anti-smoking group Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) said anything short of an outright ban would not protect bar workers and would be applied only by the large pub chains.

"The pub trade has a long history of failed attempts at self-regulation on smoking," a spokeswoman added.


The opposition parties were also sceptical of the impact the government's reforms will have.

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Paul Burstow said: "The test for the white paper will be whether it delivers on smoking and diet. Both require more than just warm words.

"Without a comprehensive ban on smoking in enclosed public places, staff will still be exposed to the unacceptable risk of second-hand smoke."

And Shadow Health Secretary Andrew Lansley added the junk food advertising ban would not work.

"What we need in public health are evidence-based solutions instead of talk."



 
Hooray common sense prevails!!!! but whatabout us Taffs? STILL WE HAVE TO ENDURE IT!!!.........AR$EHOLES in The Assembly more conerned in lining their pockets than the welfare of its peoples.........................if I wanted smoked food I would order smoked ham, kippers, etc etc :o :lol:
 
So it is alright for poor people working in pubs that don't serve food to suffer passive smoking but not middle class people in gastropubs .

Complete ban required - at least it does seem better than trailed in the press - no doubt that is typical spin
 
If we can help please just ask.

It is by far the best Law Ireland has introduced since the Republic of Ireland Act, 1948.
 
An Capall -top fishing-as they would say on the betfair forum.The smoking ban has overwhelming support in the Republic.As I said before it never bothered me if I was eating and someone was smoking a cigar next to me but as anyone in Ireland will tell you the ban is the way forward.
 
It sounds to me as if the English are banning smoking in restuarants and eating in pubs. Surely that is what it will amount to.
 
Here's another tuppence worth from me.

The government should stop being so hypocritical - they either want our money or they don't. They should ban it completely or leave it alone. I'm sure everyone else will be quite happy to pay an extra 10p in the pound PAYE.
 
Back
Top