Lights Out for Lighting Up in Wales
Welsh Smoking Ban
On Monday the smoking ban was put in place across Wales. This will shortly be followed by Northern Ireland on April 30th and England on 1st July. Medical organisations have been campaigning for a long time to enforce smoke-free workplaces whilst others argue that this affects their liberties and freedom of choice and could result in a drop in trade for many businesses across the country.
So, What Does This Really Mean?
Well, smoking in Wales is now officially banned from all public, enclosed spaces. This includes:
- Restaurants
- Pubs
- Bars
- Shops
- Cinemas
- Shopping centres
- Leisure centres
- Sports stadiums
- Public buildings like hospitals, schools, libraries and council offices and other enclosed workplaces, Public transport and work vehicles
Anyone who lights up in one of these places will now have to face a £50 on the spot fine, whilst owners not enforcing these rules can be fined up to £2500.
The new legislation also states that the premises must display non smoking signs and the ban will be enforced by Council trading standards teams. Wales was the first country in the UK to call on the ban, but it had to wait for Parliament to pass the law first of all, due to its limited lawmaking powers.
So smokers are finally being forced outside, but it's not just as simple as errecting and outside area for smokers. The rules are stringent and requires that any members of staff or customers who wish to smoke will need to go outside. An 'enclosed public space' is defined as any area with a roof that is fully enclosed or more than half the area is enclosed.
So, What's the Answer?
Why it's snuff of course!!!!
Stay inside in the comfort, dry and warmth of your local pub and snuff away the many fine varieties of snuff until your heart is content or your nose can take no more!
