England counts down to smoke ban

Smokers across England are having their final puff at work and the pub before the ban on lighting up in enclosed public places begins at 0600BST.

The move follows bans across the UK, and is intended to cut deaths from secondhand smoke.

Many venues are planning farewell events for the final Saturday night, while local authorities are preparing to enforce the ban.

Anyone lighting up illegally will face a fine of up to £200.

Regulars at the Prince of Wales pub at Hagley, Worcestershire, are having a smokers party with free cigarettes and a tobacco-themed disco featuring only tobacco-related hits.

And others are coming up with novel solutions for smokers - locals at the Miners Arms in Bristol will be offered fluorescent jackets to go outside and smoke in safety, easily visible to cars.

Landlord Gerry McLoughlin, said: "I chose these jackets because I did not want to put smokers off coming here.

"On a rainy day like today they are just what you need. Rather than spending my money on a new outbuilding I thought I would do this."

Celebrations

But while for some the weekend means a last chance to party, for others the celebrations are only just beginning.

Before the weekend, a public cigarette execution was organised by campaign group Help - For a Life Without Tobacco.

The cigarette was given the chop amid cheers opposite the Tower of London - the place where "enemies of state" traditionally met their fate.

Meanwhile some are worried that the ban will mean the demise of the traditional pub and other social haunts such as shisha cafes.

And businesses failing to comply with the ban could be hit with fines of up to £1,000 if they fail to put up "no smoking" signs.

Dickie Dawes, from Dinky's Dinah on the A458 near Shrewsbury, told the BBC that his 24-hour cafe would be open when the ban comes in, and that he was preparing early to tell people to stub out their cigarettes.

He said: "At that time in the morning we get quite a lot of revellers who've been out all night clubbing and of course some of them perhaps a bit worse for wear for a little drink.

"So it could be pretty hard tomorrow to sort it out."

The ban is designed to protect people from the effects of secondhand smoke at work, which doctors estimate kills more than 600 people a year.

The government also hopes it will help smokers to quit, and discourage children from taking up the habit.

Meanwhile a legal challenge to the ban has been launched at the High Court.

Freedom To Choose says the change in the law contravenes the European Convention on Human Rights.

:newburn: Source (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6256628.stm) :newburn:

we all agree smoking will kiil you so instead of banning it in inclosed places why doesnt the gubberment stop selling ciggarettes.

fashists...

Should just open smoking bars, that require a different license. It's ridiculous, they did it here too and many bars have closed, more people stay at home, or parties instead. Often you pass by them at night (the bars), and if they have a patio, it is full of people, while the inside is nearly empty. Even the non-smokers head out to the patio, to be with more people.

If the government really had that much of a problem with it, I agree, it should just be banned entirely, no sales. But no, they would never let that much tax revenue disappear.

Different places, Same thoughts !

Here in Indiana, they are raising the cigarette tax per pack to 99 cents on July 1st. So that means fewer tax dollars are hitting their govt wallets. I really don't think many will quit because of the extra tax. The trick is to never, ever start smoking in the first place.