QA: the smoking anathema in Britain

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How has smoking been curbed in recent years?

People were asked to refrain from smoking in a range of public places such as doctors surgeries, cinemas, theatres and churches over the second half of the 20th century but it was after the Kings Cross Underground fire on November 18, 1987, caused by a stray cigarette and which resulted in the deaths of 31 people, that restrictions on smoking in public places gained rapid and widespread acceptance

How did a ban on smoking in public places come into place?

In 1998 the Smoking Kills White Paper set out a national strategy to reduce smoking prevalence and passive smoking, including in public places. The measures were voluntary and poorly implemented. After a public consultation in England in 2004, the Government decided to opt for legislation. Scotland went first, with a ban in 2006, followed by the other nations a year later

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What is the current law?

Any person who smokes in enclosed public places, including pubs, offices, on public transport and work vehicles, is breaking the law. It does not extend to private houses. It is also an offence for people in charge of premises to permit others to smoke in them

How was it received?

It was welcomed by most organisations except for some publicans and restaurateurs. Many workplaces in the UK, including all of the NHS, had already introduced smoke-free policies consistent with the legislation before it was implemented, while others have gone beyond its basic requirements.

All railways facilities, including platforms, footbridges and other areas whether or not fitting the definition of an enclosed public space are covered, as are all football grounds and some cricket and athletics stadiums. School grounds are not required to be smoke-free under the legislation, but the majority now are

How has it been enforced?

Compliance in public premises has been high, with inspections suggesting that 99 per cent of places were sticking to the rules. The number of people prosecuted for smoking in cars has been very low, which todays report authors said was because of problems defining and identifying work vehicles. They said that a total ban on smoking in vehicles would end this confusion

Has it improved health?

Studies in early adopters of the law, including in Scotland, suggest a reduction in hospital admissions for coronary heart disease, which has been shown to be linked to passive smoking. There is also strong evidence of improved rates of smoking cessation and a drop in the number of cigarettes consumed by those who continue to smoke

Has a car ban been tried elsewhere?

Yes, it has been successfully introduced in several US jurisdictions and Australian states. In September 2007 the Highway Code was updated to add smoking to a list of potential distractions from safe driving, which included listening to loud music, reading maps, inserting CDs, tuning radios, eating, drinking and arguing with passengers or other road users