Health Minister Andy Burnham has launched a campaign to encourage bars and clubs across Manchester to go smoke free immediately, ahead of next summer's ban.
One of the city's top doctors said there has been a worrying fall in the number of smokers looking to quit since details of the ban became public.
Dr Peter Elton said he feared local services would not be able to cope with smokers looking to give up once the ban is in place.
He told health bosses and local councillors the Why Wait To Go Smoke Free? campaign was essential for health workers to provide support for quitters.
Launched at the city's hottest nightspot the Hilton's Cloud Bar - which has been smoke free since it opened in October - the service is aimed at encouraging public areas to ban smoking as soon as possible.
It hopes smokers will quit gradually rather than face a huge rush when the ban comes in.
Dr Elton said: "We are worried at the moment, there seems to have been a drop in people coming to stop smoking services.
Quit
"People are saying they are going to wait for the ban and quit then. The more places that ban smoking before then, the more people will start giving up and the easier it will be to support people to quit."
In February, the government passed laws to introduce a ban on smoking in public places from mid-2007. They have not yet announced the exact date.
Latest figures show smoking kills more people in Greater Manchester than anywhere else in the country. More than 14 people die every day in the region from smoking-related illnesses.
Mr Burnham, MP for Leigh, said: "The launch of this campaign in Manchester is a decision that has been taken in the interests of the city. It makes economic sense and has enormous health benefits for local people."
Bernadette Gilligan, manager of Cloud 23, said: "We believe that choosing to be smoke free was absolutely the right choice.
"People are more comfortable here in a smoke free environment and our staff are more comfortable too."
What do you think? Have your say.
Tweet
Comments
Login or Register to comment
Maybe if the Antis did not resort to lying and changing the figures, maybe I would be inclined to cut down my smoking.
Lies stink and there are a lot of them going unreported.
This is what a Judge said in the USA about ETS.
Fact: In 1998 Judge William Osteen vacated the study - declaring it null and void after extensively commentating on the shoddy way it was conducted. His decision was 92 pages long.
Also look for Michael Siegel, the man who started all this and what he thinks to the fanatics in the Anti groups.
Look for the truth.
Lies are evil for the Country and stink far worse than smoke.
fI am so angry with the lies I am smoking more than ever.
I am not fat either, but I must be eating for all those that are.
Because they are the next social outcasts. What a great Country to bring up children, I don't think.
I am glad my children have not been brainwashed and will turn into goverment sheep.
How are bars meant to enforce a smoking ban before it becomes legally binding?
It is interesting how there is reported to be a surge in calls to helplines in Scotland related with the smoking ban, while there is according to this article a drop in English ones. I wonder why this might be?
I'm surprised smokers haven't been blamed for global warming too.