Smokefree success predicted

Gerry McElwee, Head of Cancer Prevention, Ulster Cancer Foundation said

"Monday 30^th April, the day Northern Ireland goes smokefree, is a new chapter in the health of our population and we are absolutely confident that it will be an overwhelming success. All around the world smokefree legislation has improved health, been implemented easily and had no negative economic impact. The only harm done is to the tobacco industry, which both dislikes people smoking less and their products being shown for what they are - lethal.

"Recent research showed that more people in Northern Ireland are aware of the legislation than anywhere else in the UK and that there is an even higher degree of public support here (95%) than in GB (81%).

"However, we still face a huge challenge for smoking and health in Northern Ireland. Every day, 8 local smokers die from diseases caused by tobacco; most are hooked before they reach the age of 16 and one in five babies are born to a mother who smoked through pregnancy. Despite the triumph of going smokefree in public places, the appalling truth is that smoking still kills too many people. The reality is that tobacco kills half of all smokers and leaves many others with long term illnesses.

"Those to benefit most from the new legislation are employees within the hospitality sector who have been heavily exposed to carcinogens at work, but it will also protect customers, smokers and non-smokers alike. Our research with Belfast bar staff revealed that 81% were glad to see the smokefree legislation come into force.

"Currently bar staff can face up to 50 hrs of exposure to second hand smoke a week with 67% worried about the effects of second hand smoke on their health. Alarmingly more than half experienced a cough, scratchy throat, red or irritated eyes and / or nose irritation following a shift at work.”

View from the hospitality industry

Pedro Donald, Manager, The John Hewitt Bar & Restaurant, Belfast said,

"Monday 30th April 2007 will forever be the most significant day in the history of the hospitality industry for all the right reasons. At long last those of us who work in bars and restaurants can enjoy a smokefree working environment. This is only fair as we should not be exposed to cancer-causing substances in the line of duty."

View of a lung cancer survivor

Ulster Cancer Foundation lobbying activist and lung cancer survivor, Mary Hill from East Belfast said,

"I don’t think that people realise the harm that they are doing to themselves and to others when they smoke. It is a terrible thing to live with lung cancer and to be honest I never thought that it could happen to me. This new legislation is a milestone in improving the health of local people and I applaud UCF who have campaigned for many years on this issue."

Help and support is available

Gerry McElwee, Ulster Cancer Foundation continued,

"UCF has worked closely with Environmental Health, local businesses, unions, health and education sectors to ensure that all smokers who want to stop have access to information and support, where and when they need it. Indeed the stop smoking clinics offered by UCF are experiencing their busiest ever year.

"This is a great opportunity for local people to stop smoking. From our support work with local communities we know that there is a huge desire to break free from tobacco and our stop smoking teams are here to support smokers in their decision to go smoke-free."

More information

For further information please contact:

Pauline Wylie or Derval Keenan
Ulster Cancer Foundation
t: 028 9066 3281