What possible argument is there for NOT implementing a total ban?

In its response to the Government’s proposals for tobacco legislation in England and Wales, the British Medical Association - BMA has said there is no justification for pubs and restaurants to have a longer lead-in time to go smokefree than other businesses or for there to be any exemptions for non-food pubs.

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, the BMA’s Head of Science and Ethics, said “Each year of delay condemns around 50 hospitality workers to die as a result of exposure to second-hand smoke while at work – this is totally unacceptable and completely unnecessary.”

She added:

“Doctors feel extremely passionate about this issue because we see first hand the devastation second-hand smoke causes to our patients’ lives. When we asked our members to lobby their MPs on this matter, over 1000 did so within 12 hours of our request. To date over 1700 doctors have contacted their MPs calling on them to urge the Government in Westminster to rethink its proposals.”

The BMA believes the Government’s plans to exempt licensed premises in England that do not prepare and serve food are ‘arbitrary, inequitable and have no basis in the health evidence’. The BMA’s response concludes that ‘second-hand smoke kills, whether or not there are pies with the pints’.

The Association is urging the Government in England to learn from countries that have already gone or are planning to go smokefree. Recently countries such as Ireland, Scotland, Italy and New Zealand have introduced legislation on the same date for all enclosed workplaces including the licensed trade. In other countries, lead-in periods of less than a year after the legislation is passed are common and have not caused problems. Lengthier lead-in times could lead to momentum being lost in preparation for the legislation entering into force.

In the UK, public support for a complete ban has been steadily increasing. Support for smoke-free pubs rose by 11 points between 2003 and 2004, and polls consistently show that the majority of people support smoke-free policies.

Dr Nathanson, called on the Government in England to listen to the medical profession on this issue:

“The medical profession is united in its calls for a total ban on smoking in all enclosed public places and workplaces. Recent research reports that second-hand smoke kills 30 people each day. The situation in New York, Ireland and other cities and countries that have gone smokefree show that these policies do not harm business, they do not cost jobs. The policies are popular, they encourage people to quit and they protect health and save lives. What possible argument is there for NOT implementing a total ban?”