In a matter of weeks Hastings will be a smokefree town. The days of returning home from clubs, bars and restaurants smelling of stale smoke will soon come to an end and bar staff will find their work places that much healthier to work in.
The Government's 1 July deadline means that local authorities, like Hastings Borough Council, and its partners are busy working together to make sure the change goes as smoothly as possible.
Thousands of people, smokers and non-smokers, are expected to benefit from better health when the risk of inhaling second-hand smoke is removed from enclosed spaces. Health officials hope that the effort of standing outside a pub or restaurant to have a cigarette will mean that many people will think about giving up completely. Local Primary Care Trusts are gearing up for increased membership to smoking cessation groups and calls to national helplines.
The process of making Hastings' enclosed places smokefree is beginning now. Already thousands of businesses across the town will have been given information with their business rates letters. Many have anticipated the change for some time, following Scotland and Southern Ireland's implementation of the smokefree law.
While larger companies, such as breweries, have had first hand experience of going smoke free, the Council is ready to advise smaller businesses about the process.
Signs will have to go up advertising the smoke free logo and consideration will have to be paid to enforcing smokefree in less obvious enclosed spaces, such as fleet cars, lorries and taxis. Guidance is available from the smokefree website as well as from the Council's Environmental Health team.
After the 1 July deadline businesses or customers that don't comply could find themselves facing heavy fines.
The Council is responsible for enforcement and fines can be issued for the following:
Visit www.smokefreeengland.co.uk for more information about going smokefree or call the Council's Environmental Health team on 0845 274 1078.
Drop-in clinics are available Monday to Saturday between 8am and 8pm across Hastings and Rother.
Workplace quit smoking services offer:
You are four times more likely to give up using a service like this. For more information call the Hastings and Rother Stop Smoking Service on 01424 457153.
Back to top of page...
< Waste and Recycling changes | Regeneration News >
This page last updated: 13/06/2007