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Smoking ban heeded in London's pubs
By Katharine Barney, Evening Standard Last updated at 10:49am on 31.07.07
Message filtering through: women light up in a Soho street
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Only 13 people have been caught lighting up illegally in London since the smoking ban came into force on 1 July.
Enforcement officers have visited more than 6,000 of the capital's pubs and clubs to monitor implementation of the legislation that outlawed smoking in public places.
But they found the only real problem was that some premises had not put up the necessary warning signs.
It's costing us £150 a day, says cafe
None of the 13 people caught smoking and no premises have received anything more than a verbal warning from officials. A fewcomplaints were made to local authorities about smoking in shisha bars and pubs but no breaches were found to have taken place. Some office buildings have also been visited by enforcement officers after complaints were received about workers smoking in doorways and under scaffolding.
Officials from Islington council made the most visits by any borough - around 1,200 - and found just three breaches, meaning 99.8 per cent of venues were complying with the law.
One breach involved a landlord who mistakenly thought people could still light up in a partially enclosed area.
John Gilbert, Islington's executive member for health, said: "It's a promising start and seems to support the work we've done in the past 12 months getting people ready for the new law.
"It's too early to say for sure if the ban has already had the effect of reducing the number of smokers in Islingtonwhich, from a public health perspective, would be very welcome.
"The borough suffers from a higherthan-average sickness and mortality rate, partly due to the number of smokers we have. We'll continue monitoring the ban and ask premises managers and owners to display a 'No smoking' sign if they are not doing so.
"Because there are particular concerns about pavement noise, litter and obstruction, our street teams will take action to prevent these, too."
The only councils not to carry out any specific smoking law checks were Westminster, which has more licensed premises per square mile than any other London local authority, and Wandsworth. Both said environmental health officers had carried out checks as part of "routine" visits to pubs and clubs.
Audrey Lewis, Westminster's cabinet member for community protection and licensing, said the council had received 18 complaints about smoking in public venues since the ban came into force.
But she added: "No premises has received more than one complaint and we have written to each venue reminding the owners about the legislation and their responsibilities.
"The council has also offered to meet with the owners to discuss any issues or queries."
Nearly all councils reported up to a dozen venues not displaying the correct signs, but in these cases the managers or owners were given advice rather than a fine. In other parts of the country the law has been more strongly enforced. On Wednesday a landlord in Lancashire will be the first to appear in court for allegedly flouting the ban. Hamish Howitt is accused of allowing smokers to light up in his Happy Scots Bar in Blackpool.
A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "We welcome the positive feedback we are already receiving about the new smoke-free law.
"Although it is still early days, we are very pleased with how favourably it has been received by the public.
"We have not had official data from councils but know that, not only in London, but across England levels of compliance are high and the need for councils to take enforcement action has been minimal."
Reader views (18)
When non-smokers realise that they are not the only ones on this planet the better. If they do not want to be subjected to smoke stay at home as they are the most uninteresting people I have ever met and I'm sure the pubs would have more life without them. Being in a pub full of non-smokers is about as interesting as being up at our local cemetery. Not only that but the pubs stink of BO and other bodily functions.
- Julia Walker, Lincolnshire
I am getting fed up with this government and Ash telling us this ban is working when it is not. I was reading early this year in a national newspaper that in southern Ireland there are more pubs closing than opened the brewers cannot get people to run the pubs.
- Emma Carter, Withernsea
Smokers are addicts, who will say or do anything to justify their selfish habit.
They don't respect their own bodies, so how can they respect anyone else?
Smokers have no 'rights' to smoke when around others, if they want to disease themselves fine, do it away from non smokers. Don't impose your cancer causing chemicals on us. Smoke in your own home if you have to, and preferably not in the street or in public as the smoke blows around and effects non smokers. I'm glad the law has come into effect it's way overdue, now we need a law to stop smoking in doorways and in the streets.
- Joanna Overton, London
I think it's only the UK, Ireland, & California that have such extensive bans. What on earth makes you say it's a success worldwide?
What on earth is wrong with TOLERANCE? That is after all the way that most of the rest of the world is going.
Why can't we have some smoking venues and non-smoking venues, or even separation (with ventilation) within them. The technology is there. (why is it that technology is only ever promoted by government as a way of control?)
If I'm not smoking in front of you why on earth should you care?
- Craig, Manchester
I think one of the greatest misnomers is that this is just about protecting cutomers from secondhand smoke. The primary aim of this law is to protect those who work in environments where people have previously smoked. You wouldn't tolerate other poisonous fumes in your workplace so why should barstaff and the like have to tolerate the 50+ carcinogenic chemicals in cigarette smoke?
- Simon, Derby
Millions of extra people going to the pub - Yeah right !!.
Not to my local they aren't. Lets face it these people are anti smoking and anti-social. Going out once or twice a month does not keep a pub running.
Wonderful to read of the first pub closure in Wigan - prior to the ban it was a non-smoking pub.
Lets do the maths here 100 non smokers and 1 no-smoking pub and 99 smoking pubs, everyone happy - 100 no-smoking pubs and smokers staying at home, 1 customer per pub - everyone unhappy. Enjoy your non-smoking pubs while you can. They won't be there for long.
What was wrong with following the likes of Spain, Portugal and most of the rest of Europe, allowing the landlords the choice.
Fight this draconian piece of social engineering
- Tich, Britain
It's ridiculous when it's forbidden to smoke at a bus stop in case someone inhales a faint whiff amongst all the traffic fumes, and totally unfair that no bars at all are allowed to have separate smoking sections or even rooms. Both groups should be accommodated. The intolerance of some antis is repulsive, and the use of enforcement officers a waste of public money. A nasty and worrying law, what aspect of personal choice will government next decide to interfere in?
- Craig, London UK
It never ceases to amaze, the incredible selfishness of the anti-smokers, who want EVERY place in the whole world, not giving ANY choice to smokers, reasonable non-smokers or proprieters' property rights. You have NO rights to a non-smoking pub, and smokers have No rights to smoke in them. The owner sets the rights that the customers have, or at least that's the way it should be, and will be again, at some point. This isn't over.
- Zitori, London
This law has highlighted what a deeply selfish society we have become. Up and down the country pubs are struggling and going under. 1/4 of the population has been marginalised and of that it is the pensioners who're most severely effected.
But some people don't give a monkies so long as they don't have to deal with smoke on their occassional visit to the pub.
Answer me this; why does your desire not to go to a smoky pub require ALL pubs to be smoke-free?
And answer this bonus question; why is it legal to run a car in some enclosed public place, but not smoke a cigarette? Honestly, the way antis go on about it you'd think it was mustard gas we were exhaling.
- Rob Simpson, Worcester
I think the widespread acceptance of this law shows just how desperately it was needed. The ban on smoking has been a success worldwide, it's long overdue here.
- Dave, London
OK so smoking is unpleasant to non-smokers, but pubs are supposed to be fun. Any night out with the anti-smoking/hunting/car/having a life brigade is so wearing I'm thinking of turning to tobacco.
- Dave, Cornwall
Isn't it wonderful how they can rustle up 'enforcement officers' to monitor victimless crimes at 6,000 locations! Now try reporting a mugging or burglary and see how long it takes for a copper to turn up.
- Trevor Roll, London
Another example of the nanny state, what a joke, it is a great red herring for the dull witted to soak up. Pubs should have smoking areas and non smoking. That suits everyone. By the way, exhaust fumes create more problems than toacco smoke.
- Jack Napier, London England
My local is empty - where are all the non-smokers ?
- Grim Reaper, London
Agreed completely with Geoff and Bill.
Stinking of smoke is disgusting if you don't smoke yourself. I love going to the pub now - didn't go before cos of the smell.
- Charlie, London
It's about time that this law was introduced. Smoking in pubs and other public places is as anti social as drink driving. I lived in London most of my life until I moved to Florida and on visits to London we would go to pubs and come out stinking of smoke which is disgusting. It is such a pleasure to be here where there has been a no smoking policy in public olaces for years. It is so much better and healthier for everyone.
- Bill Smith, Fort Myers, Florida
At long last after all these years my human rights as a non smoker are being respected.
- Geoff, Wandsworth
We just meekly roll over and surrender to any piece of ill thought out legislation these days - how long before drinking in pubs is 'restricted', or food sold in restaurants will be ' monitored'? All for our health of course! 1984 is here - just 23 years late!
- Gary Parker, amersham
