Wales: Smoking Deaths Fall As Ban Hits Six Months

Main Category: Smoking / Quit Smoking
Article Date: 03 Oct 2007 - 6:00 PDT

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The lives of 200 non-smokers have been saved in the first six months of Wales' smoking ban.

As the legal age limit for buying cigarettes rose from 16 to 18, Wales' chief medical officer, Dr Tony Jewell, said: "The ban will help to cut the number of deaths from secondhand smoke and more lives will be save thanks to the ban which came in on April 2."

He added, "Every year an estimated 400 premature deaths of non-smokers will be averted by the ban. Early monitoring results show a dramatic improvement in the quality of indoor air in the premises surveyed."

The All Wales Smoking Cessation Service's report, published to coincide with the six month anniversary, shows a 20 per cent increase in people asking for help to give up smoking since the smoking legislation came into force.

Of the 9,375 people who took part in a treatment programme, 4,757 reported they had given up smoking.

Across South Wales, many pubs and bars which braced themselves for a dip in their takings, have seen an upturn in business.

Arthur O' Leary, landlord of the Glenbrook Inn, Barry, for more than 25 years, spent £20,000 on a luxurious smoking shelter, fitted with a giant plasma screen TV.

He said: "Our trade has increased since the smoking ban, the food side in particular. We've picked up customers that never went into the pub before. Sales of bar snacks, such as crisps, have increased tremendously because smokers want something to do with their hands."

Mr O' Leary said some of his customers and staff have even managed to give up smoking entirely.

Tina Buchanan, director of anti-smoking group Ash Wales, said: "We are very hopeful we are going to get similar results to Scotland, with fewer heart attacks and other smoking related illnesses."

http://www.ash.org.uk