Total smoking ban is accepted in New Zealand

The public has made significantly more enquiries to a national Quitline for smokers, and demand for nicotine replacement treatment vouchers has increased, following a total ban on smoking in indoor public places in New Zealand, according to a letter in this week's British Medical Journal.

Nick Wilson, a senior lecturer in public health in New Zealand, writes that the complete ban in his country since December 2004 has been well accepted by the public, and smoking cessation services became busier when the ban was introduced.

Speaking of the UK's approach on this issue, he writes: 'Having only a partial ban on smoking in public places is seriously inadequate in terms of protecting the public health from second-hand smoke.'