Smoking police to hit city

Ben Rooth

June 30, 2007

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STUB IT OUT: Ban set to come into play

AN anti-smoking army will slap £50 on-the-spot fines on anyone caught lighting up in pubs and clubs.

The smoking ban comes in at 6am tomorrow and the 100-strong Manchester council team will enforce it in all public buildings.

Venues which allow smoking could be hit with a £2,500 fine. Manchester Council has trained 100 'enforcement officers' and they will carry out spot-checks on nightspots to keep them smoke-free.

The new smoking laws will affect at least 500 licensed premises in Manchester alone and hundreds more in surrounding areas.

Drinkers who want to light up will be forced to go outside. Health campaigners say the move will encourage thousands of smokers to give up and will save the lives of other people who suffer passive smoking.

Smoking will be banned in virtually all enclosed public spaces, including restaurants, concert venues, cafes, offices and factories.

Biggest impact

But it is in pubs and bars where the new law will have the biggest impact, transforming the traditional night out for thousands who enjoy a drink and a cigarette.

Many publicans fear the ban could eventually put them out of business.

Gary Smith, landlord of The Rising Sun on Queen Street in Manchester centre, said the law will hit pubs that don't have a beer garden or other outside smoking area.

Officials believe that the new law will be enforced voluntarily but are ready to tackle any pubs which allow smoking.

Jenny Davenport, smoking compliance manager in Manchester, said: "People and businesses should not be under any doubt that we will take action against them if smoking continues."

What do you think? Have your say.

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Princess_Pam, Crumpsall (30/06/2007 at 10:43)

Unfortunately I think the number of assaults will go up if people start ordering people not to smoke. I just hope that people who defy the ban like myself will just quietly ignore smoking enforcers and refuse to give details such as their names and addresses.

Peaceful protest will be the best way. I once led a smoke-in at my college when smoking was banned overnight without consultation back in 2002. I led all smoking students into a canteen and got them to light-up. The ban was cancelled within 20 minutes with an agreement to allow smoking in designated indoor areas.

Ignore the ban and blow smoke in the face of anybody who objects.

dave clare, perth australia (30/06/2007 at 10:45)

Been like that for ages over here, people go outside for a smoke. Then again most pubs over here all have outside areas, because of the weather. Middle of winter but still got to a chilly 20 celcius today.

dave evans (30/06/2007 at 11:18)

Great...i can't wait...they were still all out there, in the bars last night, taking their last drags indoors, then blowing it in your face. Roll on Sunday morning.

Bejjy ex Salford now Malta (30/06/2007 at 11:45)

Like Australia, Malta has had a ban on smoking in enclosed public places for some time now to which the vast majority, both locals and tourists, of people are compliant without the threat of being given on the spot fines by over zealous council officials. Most people are sensible and understand the dangers of both smoking and inhaling other peoples smoke. Then you have got people like Princes_Pam (?) who is not very sensible and is obviously only concerned about her (?) needs and not the health needs of others. Lets hope that her (?) selfishness costs her (?) a lot of money.

shayna (30/06/2007 at 11:54)

Ah...no more inhaling smoke with every mouthful of restaurant food, no more ditching clothes and washing hair after a night out. It's amazing to watch workers huddled together in shirt sleeves outside in the -40C wind-chill, and see fellow motorists driving by in cars filled with their own smoke....
Here the former Designated Smoking Areas have been disallowed, but operators of Long Term Care facilities may construct & operate a Controlled Smoking Area, for guests only.
Outside smokers in public places (casinos, patio restaurants etc..) may have the 'luxury' of an outside shelter, consisting of no more than two walls and a roof.
The individual fine for smoking in a public place is $5,000.

silver-fox, Chorlton (30/06/2007 at 12:44)

Looking forward to enjoying a few pints in the cosier local bars which I have tended to avoid only due to the smoke when they're busy. As a bonus, maybe lots of pubs will convert their car parks into covered beer gardens with heating!

manc in new jersey, USA (30/06/2007 at 13:29)

Many major cities, or countries have now enforced smoking bans - they said it would not work in california yet over 8 years later it is still there. Admittedly South Cal. is usually warm year round so is not such an issue. Not so warm in the northern end of the state though, especially on the coast but even that has worked as it has in Philadelphia a city which, in my opinion, has many similarities to Manchester. I hope the police support the people trying to uphold this law. It onlt takes a couple of awkward people like the previous poster and honest people just trying to do a job will be getting verbal and possibly physivcal abuse regularly. I hope it works and I am a smoker.

Kevin From Hulme (30/06/2007 at 14:03)

I went to pick my kids up from School yesterday, and there was Parents and Teachers outside the school gate Smoking, I still had to go through a Arh of smoke to collect my Kids.
All the Government is doing is moving them from one site to another, Like Mice.

It will be interesting to see how these shopping centres like Salford and Stretford Cope, the old women sitting on the benches are the ringleaders.

Pravda (30/06/2007 at 14:32)

Pity they don't chase up council tax defaulters with the same zeal. There's more than 50 quid a go to have off people there!

Ricky G, Perth WA (30/06/2007 at 15:40)

Princess Pam - I am overjoyed that you wish to kill yourself. But I will enforce the ban if you try to smoke in my presence and try to kill me with your second hand filth.
Smoking is an anti-social habit that pollutes the air of people that do not wish to partake.
It will be great to go to the pub and not come home stinking of smoke.
Princess Pam - why not see this as an opportunity to give up and save yourself a small fortune...and maybe your life !!

stretford blue, gorse hill (30/06/2007 at 15:48)

ROLL ON SUNDAY WOOHOO

ex-Smoker, Swinton (30/06/2007 at 16:45)

To Bejjy in Malta, as far as I saw when I was over in Malta, the smoking ban in enclosed places was not all that effective. I saw many tourists and locals fagging it inside the bars in Bugibba as if nothing had changed. Maybe a bunch of enforcers is needed.

StevieP, Bangor (30/06/2007 at 19:05)

Just been visiting Manchester from N.Ireland where the smoking ban is in operation.It was grim smelling the smoke in taxi's and the airoport etc.Looking forward to my next trip when it will be smoke free

Daisy (30/06/2007 at 22:07)

I fully support this as a health promotion initiative, the thing that troubles me is the way it's been delivered and the subsequent management. I used to be scared of Judge Dred, but to be honest, I think he's almost here. Read an article today that mentioned a fifteen stone six foot two stop smoking enforcer, with the emphasis on his willingness to ensure the ban is enforced. I am worried that our freedom of choice is slowly and creepily being eradicated.

Princess_Pam, Crumpsall (30/06/2007 at 23:55)

Some of the anti-smokers still don't get it. If a pub or club loses large amounts of money because smokers tend to spend more, then those bars will close and they'll have nowhere to go. That's what they call cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Other arguments include the smell in their clothes. Does nobody walk down their street and get pollution from car exhausts in their clothes? Do they manage not to breathe in their cancer causing chemicals? Should car exhausts exit inside the car so they only poison the driver and not the pedestrian? We can't get away from their smelly fumes and cancer causing chemicals. In summer it even gets in the house with the windows open. A smoker on the road would not have their smoke inside your house.

Oh and please don't tell me smoking is dangerous. My Grandparents all lived to their eighties despite being smokers but if I die young, there will be less to spend on my pension but there will also be less tax going towards the NHS.

If you are going to ban smoking, then also ban private cars.

Bill, Kiriat Motzkin (01/07/2007 at 09:57)

Since Malta is in the Med they probably have no respect for rules at all. I am in Israel and they banned smoking here 6 years ago. You can't tell.

jonesy, Lancaster (01/07/2007 at 13:40)

Half of the pubs will be shut down this time next year with the smoking ban in force and beer going up to make up for the money the pubs might be losing

Johnnykippax, Manchester (01/07/2007 at 13:56)

Hi citizens.

I feel like a German living in Germany in the early 1930's
I either accept the new world order, and keep my head down, or I leave to a new country where I can express myself without surveillance by council
and government black shirts watching my every move.and joyfully fining me, after they force my name and address from me.

and they'll use anti-terrorist laws against us.
never shout rubbish at a government minister !!
rock on
John

ace, manchester (01/07/2007 at 14:03)

Within two years you will see a massive amount of people giving smoking up.This law should have been in place years ago .and afterv today i will be able to go places where ive never been able to go ,due to my lung complaint "due to years of smoking" but now i will be able to go places without the fear of getting worse because of passive smoking ...

James (01/07/2007 at 14:51)

I fully support the new ban of smoking in public places. If smokers in Manchester don't like it - tough!

The vast majority of us do not want your disgusting habit inflicted on us, and now finally the majority has a voice and we are liberated.

Pubs and restaurants will not lose business as actually more people will choose to visit them now they are smoke-free. I will certainly visit local pubs more often now that I won't come home smelling like an ash tray with a voice as husky as Barry White's.

This is the best piece of legislation this government has passed.

john (01/07/2007 at 15:28)

and dont forget that the ban is in place on every single railway platform and all railway premises, no exceptions. now i can go to work and not have to walk through this filth just to get on or off my train.
best bit of legislation ever.

The Snuffman (01/07/2007 at 15:53)

Well, the smoking ban is now in full swing and are we really ready for this? I don't think a lot of people are yet aware of the impact of this ban and how it will affect our public places.

So how is the smoking population going to cope? Personally I have recently converted to Snuff Tobacco as a way of helping me cut down on ciggies and have found this to be an entirely pleasurable pursuit. For a start it is cheaper, healthier and alot more social than smoking, and it also means that I don't have to nip outside into the cold every 10 minutes when the ban comes in.

As founder of Snuff Tobacco UK, I can say that interest in this cultured habit is certainly increasing, and it is not just amongst the older crowd. There are more brands entering the market and uptake is particularly large amongst the younger population who are seeking an alternative to cigarettes.

Most people have maybe heard of snuff but never had the chance to try it and the reaction that I have received so far whilst out on the town has been overwhelmingly positive. I wondered what the overall perception is of snuff and if people would look at this as a suitable alternative?

Happy Snuffin'
The Snuffman
www.snufftobacco.co.uk

Pocketmonster, Spotland (01/07/2007 at 17:52)

I have been a smoker for 25 years and finally after many attempts and the introduction of these new smoking laws I have an opportunity now to pack up for good,
I certainly dissagree though that Manchester council has trained 100 people to enter premises and check and enforce this law, they serve no purpose other than to collect revenue for the councils when they fine the people and premises that they catch defying the ban.
Just like Speed cameras they should all be made to wear a yellow jacket, caught not wearing one and the fine should be null and void.

marc, none (01/07/2007 at 21:50)

snuffman, thanks for the blatant spamming but snuff doesn't necessarily help you cut down and is in fact full of carcinogens just like cigarettes.

if you want to quit, using snuff WON'T help...

health.dailynewscentral.com/content/view/0001862/51/

Ryan (01/07/2007 at 22:50)

I don't care about the health risks, I enjoy smoking. There's no proof second hand smoke kills. Smell? People already smell, I find the smell of fresh rolling tobacco a pleasent change to the bus full of OAP's smelling like last weeks urine.

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