Smoke Free Portsmouth
Portsmouth is now Smoke Free!
As of July 1st 2007, England has joined Wales and Scotland, and other countries in going Smokefree. This means that it is now illegal to smoke in virtually all enclosed public spaces and workplaces. The legislation also means that businesses must display no smoking signs.
For PCC this means that all council premises, including vehicles, are now no smoking areas and no longer have separate allocated smoking areas. There are also restrictions on where & when council employees are allowed to smoke.
Portsmouth has a high level of smoking (around 30% compared to 24% nationwide), along with high rates of smoking related illness and deaths in the South East, the Smokefree law looks likely to have a large health impact on the city.
Greater numbers of smokers in Portsmouth are amongst manual workers but, with those quitting smoking tending to be mostly in the non-manual group, the inequality in health across the community is widening. The Health Improvement and Development Service, in partnership with the NHS and other organisations are working towards reducing the prevalence of smoking and smoking related illnesses in the city.
The Integrated Health Development Strategy (IHDS) 2004-2009 that was agreed by the council in 2004 sets local targets for increasing the numbers of non-smokers (with the high level target of 'increasing life expectancy'). This local document supports and reinforces the National policies: The Department of Health Action Plan (2003) and the Public Health White Paper 'Choosing Health'. Portsmouth City is a 'Pathfinder Authority on Tackling Health Inequalities'.
Smokefree will reduce exposure to passive second hand smoking. There is no known safe level of exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke. Scientific evidence shows that the simple separation of smokers and non-smokers in the same space does not protect non-smokers from second-hand smoke. Ventilation systems simply mix the air polluted with smoke with clean air, ensuring that all of the air in a building becomes polluted. Therefore any indoor space that allows smoking anywhere - even in an enclosed area - is not smoke free.
For much more information about Smoke Free you can call the Smoke Free England Information Line on 0800 169 1697 or visit www.smokefreeengland.co.uk
For local advice on the legislation contact Wendy Briggs or Sam Wooodhouse on 023 9284 1560 or email: wendy.briggs@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
For enforcement enquiries call 023 9283 4253 or email: public.protection@portsmouthcc.gov.uk.
FAQs
1. What has it got to do with anyone else whether I smoke or not?
This is not about whether you smoke, but where you smoke. Secondhand smoke is harmful and everyone has the right not to be exposed to harmful substances in the workplace.
2. What about my right to smoke?
You may have the right to smoke but not the right to damage other people in the process.
3. What is second-hand smoke?
It is other people's tobacco smoke that is a major source of indoor air pollution. It contains 4000 chemicals, including 50 that are known to cause cancer. For more on second-hand smoke see Our Secondhand Smoke page
4. How dangerous is second-hand smoke?
As little as 30 minutes exposure can affect your health. It increases your risks of heart disease and cancer, and can make asthma, hay fever and bronchitis worse.
5. Why not just put a ventilation system in place?
This may remove the smell of tobacco smoke but it would need to be as powerful as a tornado to eliminate the cancer-causing particles and dense gases from the air.
For further local information please contact:
Wendy Briggs or Sam Woodhouse on 023 9284 1560
For more information and help quitting see these pages:
About Smoking
The Scary Stuff
Why Quit?
Some Facts About Stopping
Top Ten Tips for Stopping
Secondhand Smoke
