The Petition of those against the current laws on smoking tobacco,
Declares that the current ban on smoking in public places leaves smokers exposed to the elements of the British winter. Current laws force people to go outside when they smoke, potentially enduring harsh conditions such as rain, snow and extreme cold. The laws should be assessed so that certain venues, such as bars and pubs, are not subject to the same bans as other types of public places such as shops and restaurants. It is unfair to treat bars and pubs the same as other public places when it comes to smoking, as smoking tobacco is something people traditionally do in bars and pubs.
The Petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Secretary of State for Health to allow for up to a twenty percent provision for smoking in pubs and bars that does not leave smokers exposed to the elements of the British winter.
And the Petitioners remain, etc.—[Presented by Daniel Kawczynski, Official Report, 8 July 2008; Vol. 478, c. 1380.] [P000230]
Observations from the Secretary of State for Health:
The new smokefree law in England was introduced to protect employees and the public from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke. Bars, pubs and clubs have employees and customers who have a right to be protected from secondhand smoke in the same way that employees and customers in other hospitality settings. In practice, all are protected equally by the smokefree law.
During consideration of the Health Bill in 2006, both Houses of Parliament decided by a very significant majority across all parties, on a free vote, to include both licensed premises and members' clubs within the new law. They gave very careful consideration to the inclusion of all hospitality premises at that time. Parliament decided that all bars, pubs and clubs should be covered by the smokefree law. In commercial terms, the new law created a level playing field within the hospitality sector, which was seen to be the fairest solution whilst also protecting workers and the wider public from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
Parliament also gave consideration to exposure to the elements of a British winter for those who go outside and smoke. Smoking or exposure to the harmful effects of secondhand tobacco smoke was considered a greater danger to public health than requiring those who wish to smoke to do so outdoors. It is generally recognised that winters in this country are much less harsh than in other countries such as Canada and Norway where comprehensive smokefree laws had been successfully enacted before the law in England.
The evidence of the success of the smokefree law is published in the report Smokefree England - One Year On published on 1st July 2008. This shows that the vast majority of people (76 per cent.) support the law and even a majority of smokers support it (55 per cent).
A copy of the report can be found on the following website: www.smokefreeengland.co.uk