From Sunday 1st July 2007, Part 1 of the Health Act 2006 became enforced and it is illegal to smoke in all enclosed or substantially enclosed public areas and workplaces used by more than one person.   Substantially enclosed is a term to define premises or an area that have a ceiling or roof and have openings that are less than half the total area of the walls.

Why the introduction of smokefree environments?

The legislation has been introduced to reduce the harmful effects to health from the exposure to secondhand smoke. 

• Secondhand smoke has been shown to increase the risk in non-smokers of lung cancer by 24% and heart disease by 25%.
• Thousands of lives over the next decade can be saved by reducing both exposure to secondhand smoke and overall smoking rates.
• Nearly three quarters of smokers want to give up (24% of adults in England are smokers) and the introduction of public and workplace smokefree environments will help those that wish to quit smoking.

Advice for Business- Are you Ready to Go Smokefree?

There will be specific requirements for businesses to meet to comply with the new Smokefree Regulations.  Worthing Borough Council has already sent out to all businesses in the Borough with the new business rates a leaflet summarising the requirements. The following downloads may also help you:

Already Smokefree!

Some businesses in Worthing including the Borough Council had already gone Smokefree during Worthing’s Smokefree Project last year.  These businesses include restaurants, cafes and offices.

Enforcement and Penalties

Officers of the Environmental Health Department will be authorised to enforce the Smokefree legislation.  It has been observed in Scotland and Ireland that the smoke legislation has been self regulating due to public pressure and enforcement action has been minimal.  Please note that there are fixed penalties can be issued by the local authority and fines set by the Court for non-compliance.  These can be served on the manager/owner of the establishment for permitting smoking and not displaying the official “no smoking” signage.  In addition, the individual smoker for smoking on the premises can receive fixed penalties or a fine.

Thinking of Quitting?

The NHS provides a wide range of free resources and advice. Call 01903 708000 to locate your nearest NHS Local Stop Smoking Service provider in West Sussex, or text "give up" and your full post code to 88088.  You can also visit the website for local information www.gosmokefree.co.uk.

For Further Information

Please visit the National Smokefree England website http://www.smokefreeengland.co.uk/resources/stay-informed.htmlwhere if you are a business can register for email bulletins.  Alternatively call the National Smokefree Information Line on 0800 169 1697.

For local information, please contact Environmental Health or contact Planning for planning related advice.

Links

• Healthy Business Workplace Project

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