30 Jun 2007
How does smoking affect your business?
Research indicates that many businesses are still unaware of the requirements by law to display 'No Smoking' signs at the entrance to their shops and offices from 1st July 2007.
The new law is being introduced to protect employees and the public from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.
The key points are:
From 1 July 2007 it is against the law to smoke in virtually all enclosed and substantially enclosed public places and workplaces.
Public transport and work vehicles used by more than one person will also need to be smokefree.
No-smoking signs will have to be displayed in all smokefree premises and vehicles.
Staff smoking rooms and indoor smoking areas will no longer be allowed, so anyone who wants to smoke will have to go outside.
Managers of smokefree premises and vehicles will have legal responsibilities to prevent people from smoking.
Penalties and fines for breaking the smokefree law
If you don't comply with the new smokefree law, you will be committing a criminal offence. The fixed penalty notices and maximum fine for each offence are:
Smoking in smokefree premises or work vehicles: a fixed penalty notice of £50 (reduced to £30 if paid in 15 days) imposed on the person smoking. Or a maximum fine of £200 if prosecuted and convicted by a court.
Failure to display no-smoking signs: a fixed penalty notice of £200 (reduced to £150 if paid in 15 days) imposed on whoever manages or occupies the smokefree premises or vehicle. Or a maximum fine of £1000 if prosecuted and convicted by a court.
Failing to prevent smoking in a smokefree place: a maximum fine of £2500 imposed on whoever manages or controls the smokefree premises or vehicle if prosecuted and convicted by a court. There is no fixed penalty notice for this offence.
If you do not know what your responsibilities are as a business or employer, useful checklists and advice can be found on the NHS/Dept of Health website: Smoke Free England. Or call the Smokefree England information line on 0800 169 169 7
