D (Don't) Day - one week on

Herefordshire, along with the rest of England, went smokefree on Sunday 1 July and Herefordshire Council can report receiving very few queries about the new law, and very few reports of non-compliance.

In fact reports that have been received are all very positive, with people seemingly accepting that smoking is only allowed outside enclosed public places or in private homes.

When questioned, several bar staff have been enthusiastic about the law and the fact that they no longer have to work in places filled with second hand smoke, which is what this law is really all about, it is not about penalising smokers or forcing them to quit.

Signs have appeared in premises across the county reminding everyone it is illegal to smoke on the premises, and the Smoke Free Herefordshire Partnership has been providing ‘personal ashtrays’ free of charge to smokers, so that the cigarette butt litter does not increase. These are available in Info Centres in the market towns and Hereford City.

Questions have been asked about shopping arcades, which in general will be smoke free as they are enclosed, and bus shelters, most of which again will be smoke free if they are more than 50 per cent enclosed.

Questions have also been asked about ‘policing’ the new law, and Paul Nicholas, Herefordshire Council’s environmental health manager who is responsible for the enforcement of this piece of legislation, said: “We will continue, business as usual, making our regular calls on businesses and where naturally we will be looking to ensure this law as well as all the others we enforce is being followed correctly. We will also react to any information given to us about people openly flouting the law.

“We will react with a degree of proportionality attempting to persuade rather than prosecute. In situations where the duty holder (owner/proprietor) is clearly in a position to stop persons smoking and they are not doing so, we will react appropriately, dealing with the duty holder.  In other situations such as bus shelters, we will tailor our approach accordingly because we will be dealing principally with the smoker.”

A campaign running since January has highlighted the changes in the law and provided promotional materials and advice to businesses and the public through the Council’s website, business events and road shows. People have been encouraged to be ‘onside’ or at least prepared.

Latest national research has shown that 95 per cent of people are aware of the new law and that 78 per cent (including 53 per cent of smokers) believe going smoke free will have a positive effect on health.