Stop Smoking Way

IT WAS a long-running debate that divided the nation before it was brought in last July.
But on the one year anniversary of the smokefree law in England, its introduction has been hailed a success.

Levels of secondhand smoke in workplaces across the north east have dropped by up to 95 per cent, and record numbers of smokers in the region have successfully kicked the habit.

The director of Fresh, Smoke Free North East, Ailsa Rutter, said that almost 21,000 people in the north east had quit smoking since the ban was introduced.

“The aim of the legislation was to protect people, especially workers, from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke” she said. “These figures prove that it has succeeded.”

Despite the north east being the region with the highest rates of smoking at 25 per cent, the region also regularly has the highest levels of compliance with the various aspects of the law.

Ms Rutter added: “The success of this law would not have been possible with the help of the region’s smokers and we should say thank you to them.

“However, while we should be reflecting on the success of the legislation, there is no room for complacency.

“Moving forward, there is more to do around tobacco control if we are to make smoking history for our children.

“Over half a million people in the region still smoke, so the north east has the most to gain from a long-term Government strategy which is well funded and based on evidence.”

Figures released by the NHS in the run-up to Tuesday’s anniversary showed that in the period from April to December 2007, 38,000 smokers set a date by which to quit, and almost half had successfully quit by four weeks.

The Northumberland Care Trust reported that 3,600 smokers accessed its stop-smoking services from July 2007 to March this year, and 1,702 were still off the cigarettes by the four-week mark.

A spokeswoman for the Trust said: “We recognise that there is still more to do around tobacco control.

“Tackling smoking-related problems remains a priority for the care trust and our partners.

“We will continue to make substantial investment to provide a wide range of services to support those local smokers who want to give up.”

But the smoking ban has not been greeted by everybody, and has adversely affected trade in many pubs in the area.

Several pub managers in Ashington reported a drop in numbers visiting their premises since the ban was introduced.

Measures brought into pubs to accommodate smokers include heated beer gardens, patios, shelters, and umbrellas.

But despite these measures, the general consensus is that smokers seem to be staying at home.

The manager of The Elephant on Newbiggin Road, Marie Wood, said that numbers visiting the pub starting falling over the winter months.

“It’s definitely affected business,” she said.

“People have always smoked when they have a pint, but now they tend to be sitting at home which is cheaper.

“But not smoking indoors has made a massive difference to the pub itself, it’s certainly better.

“It will get the next generation used to not smoking.”

Marie, who is a smoker, added: “I personally really dislike standing out on a street corner having a cigarette, and find it very undignified.

“If I was a drug addict, I could go into a nice warm chemist and pick up a prescription.

“I pay my taxes and everything, but I’m treated like a leper.”

The manager of the Black Diamond Inn, Anthony Nicholls, added: “It’s not very pleasant to walk through a cloud of smoke on the way into the pub, especially if you’re going to the food area.

“But it’s been a lot better for the pub because it smells cleaner, there’s no cigarette butts littering the floor, and there’s no horrendous ashtrays to clean.”

Several pub managers in Blyth Valley have reported a drop in numbers visiting their premises since the ban was introduced.

Measures brought into pubs to accommodate smokers include heated beer gardens, patios, shelters, and umbrellas.

But despite these measures, the general consensus is that smokers seem to be staying at home.

Manager of The Spartan pub in Blyth, Geoff Gainford, said: “The ban has definitely affected business, and that has a knock-on affect on jobs.

“The general feeling is that we should’ve been given the choice.

“It’s cost a fortune to accommodate smokers but without a return in money.

“Smokers just aren’t bothering to come out.

“It’s OK when it’s nice and sunny, but I think standing at the front door puts people off.

“But I think we are one of the fortunate ones because we have got our own private garden and patio.

“I’ve always agreed that there should be no smoking around food, but we were never given a choice.

“I would like to think more people did stop smoking as a result of the ban, but it would also be nice to see people still coming out for a drink and a meal.”

Manager of The Isabella, Kay Murdy, said that their premises had brought the ban in gradually months before the law was introduced.

“We started off with half the pub as non-smoking, then no smoking at the bar, then only being able to smoke in one area.

“There was no problems with enforcement when it came in, we just put the signs up.”

But she agreed with Mr Gainford about the affect on trade.

“There’s definitely been a drop,” she said.

“But there’s probably a lot more families come into the pub now.

“It’s nice not to smell of smoke after work, and it’s nice not to do the horrendous job of washing the ashtrays.”

She said that some customers took the pub’s ashtrays home with them after the introduction of the ban.

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