June, 2008:

Health bonus claimed from a year of restrictions

Caroline Davies – The Observer – Sunday June 29, 2008

The number of smokers successfully quitting has soared because of the smoking ban in England, which celebrates its first anniversary this week.

Research shows that almost 235,000 people managed to stub it out with help from the NHS in the nine months from April to December 2007 – a rise of 22 per cent on the year before. The figures, contained in a Department of Health report to be published next week, are being used as evidence that the ban on lighting up in enclosed public spaces has been a success.

In the foreword Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson writes: ‘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 have been saved. Everyone has the right to enjoy the benefits of a cleaner, healthier environment.’

Fears that smokers would smoke more at home appear to be unrealised, with 67 per cent imposing a total ban, compared with 61 per cent before the ban, according to the Office for National Statistics, which also shows that 80 per cent of those polled believed the legislation banning smoking was a good thing.

‘That is a key finding,’ said Linda Bauld, from the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies. ‘Lots of people expected that if you stopped people smoking at work and in pubs and restaurants, they will smoke more at home. But there is no evidence of that,’ she said.

The British Lung Foundation yesterday claimed the ban was responsible for keeping people with breathing difficulties out of hospital and for saving lives. In a survey of more than 1,000 people with lung conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, 56 per cent said they were now able to go out more without the risk of suffering attacks of breathlessness from passive smoking in pubs and restaurants.

‘People with lung conditions are often rushed to hospital with attacks of breathlessness, a terrifying experience which can result in death,’ said a spokesman for the charity. ‘In the past most people with a lung condition have been unable to enjoy a visit to the pub or restaurant because passive smoking could bring on an attack.’ Nearly two-fifths of those questioned said the ban had helped to keep them out of hospital.

Sue Matthews, 54, from Barking, east London, who suffers from COPD, said the ban had allowed her to live a more normal life. ‘Our Breathe Easy support group met in a pub this year – it was the first time we had ever been able to do that without worrying that we might be rushed to hospital fighting for breath,’ she said.

A reduction in the number of heart attacks is also expected as a result of the ban, though experts say it is too early to monitor the full impact in England. In Scotland, which introduced the ban in March 2006, nine major hospitals experienced a 13 per cent reduction in heart attack admissions in the following year.

‘I think we would expect to see a similar reduction in England in heart attack admissions,’ said Bauld. ‘For people who have a pre-existing heart condition, the response can be triggered by exposure to second-hand smoke.’

But the ban contributed to the closure of 1,409 pubs in 2007, compared with just 216 closing in 2006.

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.

The Press Association – Jun 27, 2008

Almost a quarter of a million people have stopped smoking since the ban on lighting up in public places was introduced, according to an official report to be published next week.

A total of 234,060 people have stopped smoking with the help of the NHS Quit Smoking Service since the ban was brought in on July 1, 2007. That is 22% more people than in the previous 12 months.

The Department of Health report on the smoke-free legislation will be published on the first anniversary of the smoking ban.

It also states the ban has cut pollution levels in bars and restaurants by 91%.

Fears that the ban would not be enforced have proved groundless with 98% of premises inspected complying with the legislation and 76% of the population saying they back the law.

In the foreword to the report, Chief Medical Officer Sir Liam Donaldson writes: “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 have been saved. Everyone has the right to enjoy the benefits of a cleaner, healthier environment.”

Amanda Sandford, research manager at the campaigning charity Action on Smoking and Health, said the ban had been a resounding success.

She said: “There are so many benefits from the legislation. For example, we have seen a decline in the number of people being admitted to hospital with heart disease and there has been a 76% reduction in the nicotine levels of bar workers.

“But we can not sit on our laurels. There are still nine million adult smokers in England alone and smoking is still the biggest cause of preventable sickness and death in this country.”