Pressure on Councils to ban smoking in public places

Councils in Northern Ireland have been asked to ban smoking in public places by Macmillan Cancer Relief.

Marking November’s Lung Cancer Awareness Month, Macmillan is using a branded taxi to deliver letters directly to mayors to outline the necessity of a ban to reduce lung cancer rates in Northern Ireland.

Lung cancer is Northern Ireland’s biggest cancer killer, with 850 people diagnosed with the disease every year.

“The simplest and most effective way for councils to lower lung cancer rates and help save lives is to enact a ban on smoking in public places ," said Heather Monteverde, General Manager for Macmillan in Northern Ireland.

The UK is out of step with other European countries on the issue of smoking in public places. In 1989 the EU invited all Members States to introduce legislation to ban smoking in places open to the public. Only the UK has failed to introduce a specific legal instrument, continuing to reply merely on a code of practice.

Tobbacco companies and the hospitality industry insist that ventilation systems are the answer to smoke filled pubs and restaurants. Macmillan calls this a well-propagated myth, “ventilation systems may improve the comfort of customers, but they leave behind the tiny particles that the eye can’t see – and that could give you cancer .” argues Heather.

Macmillan have hit home with their message to councillors, asking them to set an example by introducing a ban on smoking in their own workplace - Council buildings.

For information on lung cancer contact the Macmillan Cancer Relief helpline on 0808 808 2020 or online atwww.macmillan.org.uk/