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Smoking in Public Places
A Consultation on Reducing Exposure to Second Hand Smoke
Report of Regional and Area Events
FALKIRK, 24 AUGUST 2004
Approximately 40 people attended the event from a wide section of the community. There was some representation from SLTA membership, not all of them from the Falkirk Area. There was also some health board staff present that helped out with facilitation on the night as more people turned up than had previously registered. Other participants were members of the general public who were interested in voicing their opinion on this subject. Most of the participants had never attended a Scottish Civic Forum debate before.
The meeting started with an input from two speakers; one was a representative from the SLTA and the other a Public Health Practitioner. Both speakers gave a 7-minute presentation on what they thought the main issues of the consultation to be. Participants then split into two groups one was facilitated by Angela Moohan, Co-ordinator for SCF and one was facilitated Aileen Anderson, Health Promotions Officer Forth Valley NHS Trust. There was no consensus of opinion on the night
although all agreed that there should be a ban where food is being served and where children are allowed. It was also agreed that the Government should put more money into education and prevention of smoking with young people in a variety of settings. It was also agreed that if a ban is to be introduced then there should be some exemptions i.e. in care homes, prisons and hotel rooms. However it was also recognised that this then places the staff that work in these establishments in a difficult situation and what then happens to their rights.
It was asked why secondary smoking is not covered in the current health and safety legislation and that perhaps this would be the way to address the issue. Concerns were raised about who and how any ban would be implemented and it was suggested that adequate recourses would have to be made available for enforcement. It seems that another main issue is that of choice; and the right to choose whether once can smoke or not. If there is a ban then some felt that this would be an infringement of the right of a smoker to choose.
Generally speaking it was recognised that this is a very sensitive and emotive issue. One person suggested that perhaps emotion should be left aside where there is a risk to the health of the nation and that the Government has to step in where health is at risk. If a ban is implemented then financial assistance should be made available to businesses, particularly small ones, perhaps in the form of grants to improve ventilation etc (depending on restrictions) or compensation. The following comments were also recorded:
GROUP ONE
Other Alternatives
Reduce the number of people who smoke - need support and education.
Ban smoking but not intake of nicotine.
Educate children now to stop them starting to smoke.
Social deprivation - need to address these issues as well.
Outright ban i.e. glue ear, asthma and other issues exacerbated by smoking/passive smoking.
Look to what is happening in Europe.
Health comes first over project - smoke has no boundaries.
Voluntary Action
Not working.
Against self regulation due to self interest.
Pubs feel they self-regulate effectively.
People can go into a pub but still smell smoke.
Non smokers want a smoke free environment.
Smokers impact on health - non smokers are not affecting people's health.
Want charter to become law over 3 year timeframe -i.e. 50% of area to be smoke free.
Questions
What will pubs do about ventilation - how much are pubs prepared to spend?
What are statistics on alcohol related deaths?
How are we going to protect children in pub areas from the impact of smoking?
Should be public ban i.e. no employees smoking outside?
Need for democracy
Trains - make one carriage smoke free at start or end of train
Don't lose sight that 120,000 deaths p.a. due to smoking
What Else can be Done
Ban cigarettes (? revenue)
Ban cars.
Children exposed to asthma attack.
Impact on workers health that work in pubs.
Publicans have put in ventilation systems that are expensive and now may not work.
Looking for understanding from smokers re the negative impact smoking has on non smokers
This group had a show of hands on the main questions and the result were as follows:
9 in favour of ban in public places.
7 not in favour of ban in public places
5 in favour of trial of some pubs
Having a ban and some remaining, as is more financial help to pubs to implement.
GROUP TWO
Need to get sensible solution that will protect business's profit/jobs.
What do businesses need to be protected from?
Need to protect people who don't some from risks of passive smoking.
Non smokers should have more choices.
Compliance for (non smoking restrictions) would be more difficult for smaller establishments so there should be a complete ban.
Who would/should enforce?
All people should have a choice = restricted areas.
There should be protection for staff in public places in the same way as they are for other health and safety elements of their work
Must separate legislation from emotion
No smoking in public places with exception to be negotiated.
If there is a ban them smokers do not have a choice.
Smoking should be banned where there are children and food served -
all in group agreed with this comment including representatives of the SLTA.
Exceptions to a ban should include care homes, prisons and hotel rooms.
If you give an exemption to prisons what about prison officers?
Main issue of ban seems to be related to people's livelihood being affected - therefore if restrictions are to be introduced then there should be grants available to businesses for ventilation systems etc. There should also be a compensation scheme.
There should be a complete ban of smoking in hospitals.
There should be more education for kids on the effects of smoking and wider related health issues.
There should be more support for adults to stop smoking.
Other related social issues should be addressed e.g. poverty housing etc.
There should be a trial period across Scotland and in some facilities.
A trial period would be unfair on those who do not have choice and it wouldn't really be practical
SLTA - smoking should be allowed in bars.
A smoker should be allowed to have choices also
Choice is OK but where life threatening/risk to health the Government should step in.
The rights of young people i.e. in families where there are smokers have to be recognised also.
Are young people being consulted on this issue?
There are issues related to parents smoking in front of children and the affects that has on them long-term and on their rights.
Economic impact for business has to be taken into consideration - if there is a ban there should be a settling in period.
Environmental impact bins etc also lined to enforcement.
Proper and efficient ventilation should be in every public place.
Ventilation system has to protect health.
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