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On 14th February, MPs voted for a full ban in all pubs and clubs which will be implemented in summer 2007, and I was extremely pleased with this decision. The evidence in favour of a full ban is, I believe, irrefutable. The weight of public opinion had also shifted in support of the outright ban. Doubts were raised about the potential difficulties involved with enforcing the partial ban initially proposed, which would have exempted private members clubs and pubs that don’t serve food. Health inequalities were also expected to increase, because of the greater number of pubs in deprived areas that would have been exempt.

Other countries have successfully introduced smoking bans. The health of people within these nations has improved and in Ireland the expected fall in sales in pubs has not materialised, in fact sales have increased by more than 5%. People have the right to both live and work without coming into contact with harmful substances and I feel this must take precedence over the right of a smoker to light up in public.

Below is an article that I wrote for the Wandsworth Borough News on this issue:

Smoking Kills - there is no denying that anymore. Since the Labour Government was elected in 1997, we have taken successive steps to try to reduce the suffering caused by smoking. The NHS Stop Smoking service was established in 1999, with £138 million provided to the service between 2003 and 2006. Stop smoking aids are now offered on prescription. The Government introduced a comprehensive tobacco advertising ban, while also running an ongoing media campaign highlighting the dangers of smoking. Regulations were established in 2002 regarding the contents and packaging of tobacco products. Lastly, successive increases in taxation on cigarettes have been implemented.

The manifesto on which I and other Labour candidates stood at the last General Election was the most anti-smoking of any of the three main parties in history. We proposed a partial ban to ensure all public places and workplaces except licensed premises would be smoke-free. Only pubs and bars that do not serve food would have been exempt.

However, in December the Health Select Committee published a report on Smoking in Public Places and determined that “There is no satisfactory way of allowing smoking in public and at the same protecting non-smokers from the harmful effects of second hand smoke.” The report highlighted that about 500 non-smokers die prematurely each year from inhaling second-hand smoke in the workplace. Therefore the Health Committee recommended a comprehensive smoking ban.

I understand there is an argument that smokers should have the right to smoke in pubs and bars. However non-smokers equally have the right to enjoy a drink without having to inhale second-hand smoke and leaving with their clothes smelling of cigarettes. Moreover the health of workers in the hospitality sector must be of primary consideration. Roy Castle is the most famous victim of passive smoking, but unfortunately there are thousands of identical cases.

It is undeniable that second-hand smoke, which contains 4000 hazardous chemicals, is a major health risk. Short term effects include eye irritation, headaches, sore throats and nausea. Longer term effects include the worsening of chest and allergic problems, such as asthma, hay fever, bronchitis and emphysema. Approximately 12,000 people die each year as a result of passive smoking.

I firmly believe legislation should not simply be prescriptive, but should also play a role in changing attitudes. The evidence supporting a comprehensive ban has strengthened and the attitude of the majority of people has shifted in favour of a full ban. A MORI poll conducted in spring 2004 found only 49% of the UK population would support comprehensive legislation, but by December 2005 the figure had increased to 67% in a YouGov poll. I would expect support to rise still further if the legislation is introduced.

At present 106,000 people die every year from smoking related illnesses. ASH and Asthma UK have predicted that almost 700,000 people would give up smoking within a year if a comprehensive ban was introduced. Therefore from a public health perspective the evidence supporting a comprehensive ban is overwhelming. I will be urging parliamentary colleagues to recognise this and ensure a full ban is passed into legislation. This will help smokers to kick the habit and protect non-smokers from the harms of passive smoking.

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