Welsh assembly sends smoking guideance pack to all affected businesses

Trade & Industry news

welsh assembly sends smoking guideance pack to all affected businesses

Up front, news, March 2007, COMMENTS

Over two million Welsh businesses have been sent a guidance pack by the Welsh Assembly Government outlining the legal regulations for the smoking ban, which will be implemented on 2 April.
The pack is designed to help all affected businesses prepare for when the smoking ban will take effect, and contains ‘No Smoking’ signage and a sample smoking policy to assist in the transition to smoke-free premises.

At a minimum, the guidance recommends that licensees:
• display ‘No Smoking’ signs in smoke-free premises and vehicles covered by the law
• take steps to ensure that staff, customer and vistitors are aware that premises and vehicles are legally required to be smoke free
• be prepared to inform anyone smoking that he/she is committing an offence and to take other reasonable steps to prevent them from smoking.
It also recommends that businesses develop a written smoke-free policy to communicate the new law and its implications to stakeholders, and suggests that businesses support staff who want to quit smoking.

On smoking areas, it reiterates the 50% rule: that smoking cannot take place in areas with a ceiling (either fixed or movable) and walls (including openings such as doors or windows) that are less than half of the total wall area.

It also provides guidance on the necessary steps to ensure non-compliance is dealt with in an appropriate manner.

The guidance is available on the website www.smokingbanwales.co.uk, where licensees can also download or order legal no smoking signage, free of charge. The signage will need to be displayed at premises from Monday 2 April.

To co-incide with the ban, an awareness campaign has also been launched. Mailshots to every house in Wales will provide information on the ban in March, with a substantial television, radio and poster advertising campaign also aiming to spread the message.

Deputy Health Minister John Griffiths said: “The smoking ban in enclosed public places is the single most important public health measure that the Assembly has addressed.

“Local authority enforcement officers across the country have been working closely with businesses to offer advice and support so that everyone is clear about the changes.

“Feedback has been really positive and I’m so pleased that support for the ban is gaining momentum amongst businesses and members of the public alike.”

From: March 2007 Issue

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