Smoking banned in English pubs and clubs

LONDON - The House of Commons voted by a huge margin on Tuesday to ban smoking in every pub, club and indoor public space in England, adding it to the growing list of countries taking a tough stand against smoking.

The bill, passed by 384 votes to 184, followed months of heated debate that divided the Labour government and incensed health groups.

Jubilant anti-smoking campaigners welcomed the decision, saying a ban would save thousands of lives, while critics condemned the government for interfering and denying people choice.

The law will now pass to the unelected upper House of Lords, where it is also expected to pass. If so, it will become law by mid-2007.

Although British scientists were the first to document the health risks of smoking, such as lung cancer, Britain has been slow to stop people smoking in public places.

Ireland banned smoking in restaurants, pubs and workplaces in 2004. New Zealand introduced a similar ban in the same year and six countries imposed bans on smoking of varying severity in 2005.

"This is the most important advance in public health since Sir Richard Doll identified that smoking causes lung cancer 50 years ago," Alex Markham, head of Cancer Research UK, said in a statement. "Today's vote will protect thousands of workers and save many lives."

The pro-smoking lobbying group Forest condemned the ban.

"We think it is totally unnecessary and completely illiberal. Unfortunately, members of parliament got it into their heads that because Ireland had chosen an utterly draconian ban, it was inevitable it should happen over here."

The government initially proposed a partial ban, exempting private clubs and pubs which do not serve food. But many Labour supporters said this was not tough enough, prompting open arguments between members of the cabinet.

Labour unions and the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) joined forces to call for a complete ban. The BBPA said a partial ban would put non-smoking pubs at an unfair disadvantage compared with those where smoking was permitted.

A survey last year showed 72 per cent of Britons wanted a sweeping ban on smoking, covering all workplaces, restaurants and bars.

The government, fearing defeat if it insisted on a partial ban, said it would allow a free vote, one in which parliamentarians do not have to follow party orders. A spokeswoman for Prime Minister Tony Blair said he had voted for the total ban.

A partial ban would have put England at odds with Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales which have banned smoking in all indoor public places or have announced plans to do so.

There are some 20,000 private clubs and 53,000 pubs in England and Wales, according to the BBPA. Any premises which ignore the ban will face a fine of up to 2,500 pounds.

The few exemptions to the new law will include prisons, long stay care facilities and hotel bedrooms.

- REUTERS