By Patrick Sawer – Last updated: 8:06 AM BST 28/06/2008 – Telegraph News
The smoking ban in pubs, clubs and restaurants has been described as the “single most important health measure for a generation” after record numbers are shown to have quit the habit last year.
A leaked report shows 234,060 people gave up smoking in the months immediately before and after the law was introduced a year ago – a 22 per cent increase on the previous year.
The report by the Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, says that 76 per cent of people support the ban on smoking in the workplace and other public places while just three per cent of businesses reported a negative impact on trade.
The report, to be officially published on the July 1 anniversary, also shows that 98 per cent of premises inspected complied with the smoke-free legislation.
Air quality in pubs and restaurants has also improved dramatically since July 1 last year. Pollution levels fell 91 per cent inside pubs and restaurants after the ban and is “now comparable to outside air”.
At the same time bar workers showed a 76 per cent reduction in nicotine levels.
In the foreword to his report, Sir Liam says: “The significance of the smoke-free laws cannot be underestimated.
“A significant reduction in second-hand smoke with its damaging health effects has been achieved. We expect many lives will have been saved. Everyone has the right to enjoy the benefits of a cleaner, healthier environment.”
Amanda Sandford, of the campaigning charity Action on Smoking and Health, said last night: “This is great news.”
Ministers are set to use the anniversary of the smoking ban in England next week to publicise its success.
However Sir Liam argues more needs to be done to persuade smokers to give up. From this autumn graphic picture warnings are to be printed on cigarette packets, a move described by Sir Liam as “essential”. Ministers are also planning to ban packs of 10, stop newsagents displaying cigarettes and outlaw cigarette vending machines.
Sir Liam said: “The smoking epidemic is far from solved. Tobacco kills 87,000 people annually in England alone. It remains the single greatest cause of preventable illness.”
England was the last part of the UK to ban smoking in public places and workplaces. Bans were introduced in Scotland in 2006 and in Wales and Northern Ireland in 2007.
The British Beer and Pub Association said the smoking ban has had a devastating effect on pubs, with 1,409 pubs closing in 2007 compared with 216 in 2006 – a rate of nearly 30 a week.