Smoking ban is winning hearts and minds
Smoking ban is winning hearts and minds
Pressure is increasing on the government to introduce a blanket ban on smoking in bars. Speaking ahead of a fringe meeting at the Labour Party conference this week, Peter Hollins, director general of the British Heart Foundation, said 'the case for comprehensive legislation is now overwhelming. Everyone has a right to a smokefree workplace. The current proposals will leave the most heavily exposed workers unprotected and will lead to an increase in health inequalities.' Hugh Robertson, head of safety at the TUC, said 'the trade union movement is unequivocal. We need comprehensive legislation with no exemptions urgently. Every day that smoking is allowed in workplaces, two workers die from other people's smoke. There is simply no possible argument for not going ahead with this now.' Britain's largest pub operator Mitchells & Butlers last week switched its position and backed an outright ban. It told the Department of Health: 'The food-based exemption route is unworkable, divisive, creates a confusing and inequitable playing field and does nothing to address the public health concerns for staff.'
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