Nights out with the lights out :: Wessex Scene Online

Nights out with the lights out

10th March 2006
Alistair Brockbanks

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The week of the 13 February saw three seminal changes in British politics, none unfortunately in the Valentine’s spirit. ID cards should now be phased in from 2008 and anti-terrorism laws including the offence of ‘glorification’ of terrorism was passed through the Commons. However, perhaps most importantly for the general public, the 2006 Health Bill was passed, which from next summer will outlaw smoking in most public places. Cancer Research UK called this "the biggest step forward in public health in fifty years". Indeed with the research proving the danger of smoking and second-hand smoke many campaigners are left asking why this bill has taken so long to appear.

Despite previous government wishes for a partial ban MPs voted by a margin of 200 to opt for a complete ban in most public places, such as pubs and clubs. However more private places such as people’s homes and hotel rooms will not be subject to the ban. Once the ban is implemented anyone caught smoking will be given a Ł50 fixed penalty notice, much like a parking ticket.

The government has calculated that around 700,000 of England’s ten million smokers will give up as a result of the ban, the effect on passive or ‘secondary’ smoking is harder to calculate, but it is likely to follow a similar pattern. This may go someway to alleviating the estimated Ł1.7bn cost of smoking on the NHS. These health benefits are disputed by the pro-smoking lobby who simply argue that the same people will continue to smoke at home and on the street.

Pro-smoking organisations, such as FOREST (a smokers’ group), believe the law to be illiberal, arguing that the government has no business denying smokers the right to smoke. But anti-smoking groups refer to this as hypocritical; pointing out that smoking violates the rights of others not to have to inhale smoke whenever they go out

The banning of smoking in the UK has been a long time coming since the first evidence of the dangers of smoking decades ago and perhaps this will form a genuine part of Tony Blair’s legacy. From summer 2007 England’s public spaces will be smoke free and patrons of the Stags Head will only have liver damage and the lack of an apostrophe in its name to worry about.

Alistair Brockbanks presents the CrossCurrent radio show on SURGE, Thursdays 2-4pm.