The British government has banned smoking in enclosed places and has put the draft regulation out for consultation.
The British government has banned smoking in enclosed places and has put the draft regulation out for consultation.
Health Minister Caroline Flint said that the government wanted to know about the people's views ahead of the ban. Anti-smoking groups are very happy and also said that it would be nice if the smoking ban extended to bus shelters and sports stadia. But the Tories say that the plan would be expensive and is very complicated. Initially the government let the private members' clubs and pubs that don’t serve food to be exempted from the smoking ban. But now the MPs want a total ban.It is found that a full ban would cost £1.66bn to £1.67bn a year and the total benefits are worth £3.374bn to £3.78bn. Ian Willmore, from anti-smoking group Ash, appreciated the government’s decision to regulate smoking. This ban is already been in force in the Irish Republic and in Scotland and is working well. He also said that the ban should be extended to all mental health units and prisons. Nick Bish, of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, said that initially the ban should be handled with a light touch of enforcement of the rules. But the Conservatives, shadow health minister Andrew Murrison said that the ban is filled with complications.
