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Tobacco Smoke Pollution: the hard facts

10 reasons to make public places smokefree

following link to PDF Document Download publication (12 page PDF, 536k)*

Contents

  1. Environmental tobacco smoke kills
  2. Environmental tobacco smoke harms children
  3. Employers have a duty to protect their staff
  4. Freedom of choice is important
  5. Most people dislike environmental tobacco smoke
  6. Smoking areas and ventilation don't work
  7. Voluntary self regulation in pubs has failed
  8. Children exposed to smoking role models are more likely to smoke themselves
  9. Smoking causes fires
  10. Smokefree policies help people to quit smoking

The UK's medical Royal Colleges and their Faculties believe that the time has come for legislation to make public places smoke free. All the Colleges and Faculties are supporting the document launched today by the Royal College of Physicians - 'Tobacco Smoke Pollution: The Hard Facts'

In a letter in today's Times newspaper, the Presidents of the Royal Colleges and Faculties explain why a ban on smoking in public places is necessary:

"Passive smoking causes an estimated 1,000 deaths in adults each year and causes asthma, lung infections and middle ear disease in children. The great majority of people in the UK - 80% - are now non-smokers. Most find cigarette smoke unpleasant and irritating and the majority of smokers and non-smokers alike would prefer public places to be smoke free. All have a right to freedom from tobacco smoke pollution.

Most public places are somebody's workplace, and employers have a duty to protect employees from harm. Many workplaces are now smoke-free but in the hospitality industry, smoke exposure is still very high and poses a particular risk. The voluntary system of self-regulation has failed to protect the majority of staff or customers.

Most smokers want to quit smoking and smoke free policies help them to do so. If all workplaces that currently permit smoking in Britain became smoke free, it is estimated that more than 300,000 people would quit smoking and in the longer term more than 150,000 lives would be saved. The Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, in his annual report, called for consideration of a ban on smoking in public places. As doctors, seeing the daily consequences of smoking and passive smoking, we agree and call on the Government to introduce legislation at the earliest possible opportunity."

The UK medical Royal Colleges and Faculties supporting 'Tobacco Smoke Pollution; The Hard Facts':

Dr Dan Ash, President, Royal College of Radiologists; Mr Nick Astbury, President, Royal College of Ophthalmologists; Professor Carol Black, President, Royal College of Physicians; Professor Alan Craft, President, Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health; Professor William Dunlop, President, Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists; Dr Niall Finlayson, President, Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh; Dr Brian Gennery, President, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine; Professor Sian Griffiths, President, Faculty of Public Health; Dr Bill Gunnyeon, President, Faculty of Occupational Medicine; Professor David Haslam, Chairman of Council, Royal College of General Practitioners; Professor Ross Lorimer, President, Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow; Mr John Lowry, Dean, Faculty of Dental Surgery; Dr Alastair McGowan, President, Faculty of Accident and Emergency Medicine; Sir Peter Morris, President, Royal College of Surgeons of England; Dr Mike Shooter, President, Royal College of Psychiatrists; Dr Peter Simpson, President, Royal College of Anaesthetists; Dr John Smith, President, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh; Professor James Underwood; President, Royal College of Pathologists

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This page last updated on November 24, 2003