Blog post from Councillor David Fothergill as he looks back at the introduction of the smokefree workplaces and indoor public spaces legislation in 2007, local government’s successful role and how it continues to be seen as a watershed moment for public health.
Smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces has been illegal in England since 2007. It is easy to forget how controversial and hard-fought the ban on smoking in public places was. Now, the government will be given powers to extend indoor smoking ban to certain outdoor settings, including playgrounds, outside schools and playgrounds, focused on protecting children and the most vulnerable.
In the years leading up to the 2007 legislation being passed, there was opposition in some quarters. Critics argued that it was not the state’s role to determine what people do to their bodies.
Supporters of a ban however argued that their civil liberties were infringed when they were made to breathe other people’s smoke. Slowly perceptions began to change. The example set by the Republic of Ireland, which in 2004 became the first country to adopt smokefree legislation, helped to give people the confidence to act.
Liverpool City Council for one took up the fight, voting to push for a local act of Parliament allowing them to introduce a smoking ban in public places. Other local authorities looked to take a similar step and the movement gathered momentum. This is one of the best examples for many years about what can happen when councils collectively take on a significant issue and shows what councils can do with their public health powers.
Scotland took the plunge first, in 2006, before the rest of the UK followed suit. In England the ban came into force on 1 July 2007, covering all enclosed public and work places, including transport, in pubs, clubs, membership clubs, restaurants and shopping centres.
Public support for smokefree legislation was high at the time of its introduction, with 78 per cent of survey respondents supporting the measures and only 14 per cent opposing them (the remainder were ‘don’t know’ responses).
But the impact has gone much further than that. Exposure to second-hand smoke and attitudes to smoking have changed greatly because of the ban. It has also arguably paved the way for more controls on the use and sale of tobacco products.
Looking back, the introduction of the smoking ban can arguably be seen as a watershed moment. Since the smoke-free law came into force 17 years ago, there has been a wave of fresh restrictions introduced – much of which England has been at the forefront of internationally."
The age at which people can buy tobacco products has been raised from 16 to 18 and they are no longer stocked in vending machines. Bans of tobacco displays in shops have also been introduced, while cigarettes now have to be sold in standardised packages with England becoming the first country in Europe to adopt such a stance.
The trend, which has been accompanied by generally positive public approval, has also encouraged councils to introduce their own restrictions locally. These have included voluntary restrictions on smoking in open public places, such as town squares, playgrounds, beaches and parks.
Environmental health officers were crucial to the successful implementation and, together with trading standards officers, continue to play a pivotal role, working closely with businesses to raise their awareness of their legal requirements and ensure compliance.
While it took a long time to get the legislation introduced – cinemas first started restricting smoking in the 1970s – when it did happen it was pretty seamless. Four months after the introduction of the ban, the government announced 98 per cent of places inspected by local authority officers were compliant.
Studies commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care then demonstrated the positive impact of the smoking ban and, importantly, have informed action in other countries since. The requirement to introduce smoke-free public places is now enshrined in the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, a global public health treaty. stop smoking services reported a 20 per cent increase in demand in the 12 months following the smokefree law.
At the end of the day, it was totally unacceptable for people who worked in pubs, restaurants and bars to be constantly exposed to harmful second hand smoke as part of their job. It’s clear that the ban has been an enormous success. As well as protecting people from the deadly effects of second-hand smoking, the ban has had a much wider impact on public attitudes, helping to make smoking less acceptable and putting young people off starting. Countless lives have been saved now we’ve removed the smoking culture that dominated the way we socialised.
It is time to remind ourselves that we must not be complacent.
of adults in England were cigarette smokers on last count
people die every year from smoking-related diseases
Councillors recognise the harm that smoking inflicts on their communities and the importance of continuing to drive down smoking prevalence. The goal of a smoke-free community no longer seems out of reach but there is still much to be done to achieve it.