Partial smoking ban would widen divide between rich and poor

A partial ban on smoking in enclosed public places and workplaces would further increase the health inequalities between rich and poor in Northern Ireland.

This was supported by research presented today at a smokefree legislation debate hosted by the Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA) at the Park Plaza Hotel, Belfast International Airport.

Key speaker, Ian Willmore, Public Affairs Manager for Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), announced the results of a recent survey which showed that pubs exempt from a partial smoking ban would be concentrated in poorer communities. "As studies have shown, poorer people are more likely to suffer ill health and premature death due to smoking and are more likely to be heavily exposed to second-hand smoke in their work and social life. The recent survey for ASH confirms that if the Government continues with these exemptions to smokefree legislation it will hurt the very people it aims to help, he said."

A partial smoking ban was supported by just over 8% of respondents to the recent Government consultation. In Northern Ireland, the workplaces where smoking would still be allowed under a partial ban would be expected to include bars which do not serve food.

Dr Brian Gaffney, Chief Executive of the HPA, said: “Bar-workers not only tend to have lower incomes, they are also exposed to especially high levels of second-hand smoke in their workplace. A partial ban which exempts some bars would therefore fail to provide protection for those who are most at risk.

“People living on a low income are more likely to live near and socialise in those bars which would not be covered by a partial ban. Such a failure to protect the most vulnerable in our society from the serious health risks posed by other people’s smoke is totally unacceptable. The only acceptable response is a ban on smoking in all workplaces.’’

It is estimated that in 2003, there were 617 deaths from second-hand smoke at work in the UK, including 54 long-term employees in the hospitality industry¹.

The HPA will be re-launching its anti-smoking television advertising campaign from 20 September 2005 with two ads. The first will focus on the effects of second-hand smoke in the home and how it impacts on children and the second will tackle second-hand smoke in a pub setting. The ads will run until the end of October 2005.

END

Notes to the editors
The HPA’s television advertisement, ‘Safety’ will run from 20 September – 16 October and ‘In your face’ will run from 10 – 31 October. Both advertisements can be viewed here.

For further information contact
Rosie McGaughey at the HPA -Tel: 9031 1611;
Email: r.mcgaughey@hpani.org.uk.

¹Jamrozik K. Estimate of deaths attributable to passive smoking among UK adults: database analysis. BMJ 2005; 330: 812