Member Article

North East strongly backs smoke free pubs

Support for smoke free pubs and bars is stronger in the North East than anywhere else in England, according to research published to mark World No Tobacco Day. On World No Tobacco Day – when campaigners across the world are promoting smoke free environments – 78% of North Easterners questioned supported smoke free bars and pubs, including 65% who strongly supported. When questioned about the law to make all enclosed workplaces smoke free 83% of North Easterners supported the move, including 69% who strongly supported it. This is despite the region having some of the highest levels of smoking in the country.

The research, jointly carried out by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), Asthma UK, and British Thoracic Society, builds on recent surveys by the Department of Health and the BBC, all of which show that the introduction of the smoke free law is becoming increasingly popular as the date for its introduction draws near.

Ailsa Rutter, Director of Fresh, Smoke Free North East comments: “It is fantastic that the region recognises the importance of this law and fully supports it. We know that wherever smoke free laws have been introduced they are extremely popular. Importantly these figures suggest that, because of its popularity, the law is likely to be self enforcing. Our region suffers from the worst lung cancer and heart disease rates in England, with 35 people dying every year from the effects of second hand smoke in the workplace. It’s not surprising that people are looking forward to a law which can help to transform the health of the North East.”

For the latest information on the smoke free law visit www.smokefreeengland.co.uk/stayinformed or phone 0800 169 169 7. For more information about Fresh Smoke Free North East, visit www.freshne.com.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .