Smoking ban hailed as 1000s quit

More than 3,500 smokers across South Staffordshire have quit the habit in the 12 months since the introduction of the smoking ban.

On the anniversary of the introduction of the ban, which came into force last July, Lichfield district councillor Val Richards, cabinet member for housing and health, said the response to the ban has been positive in the district. "We're so pleased that businesses and customers have responded so positively to the ban," she said today.

"Thanks to the ban, employees can now be confident that their working environment is healthier and customers can enjoy a smoke-free environment while out and about.

"We know the ban is also helping people who are trying to give up smoking – over the past year nearly 7,000 residents across South Staffordshire have contacted the NHS stop-smoking services, and over 3,500 have given up smoking," she added.

Councillor Richards said the ban had brought benefits for both businesses and customers.

"Many of the businesses we have visited since the ban have told us they have used the introduction of the smoke-free law as an opportunity to develop their services in other areas – such as being more inviting for families and children – and are now enjoying the benefits of attracting new customrs to a cleaner, healthier, smoke-free environment."

Environmental health officers at Lichfield District Council said in the year since its introduction only eight businesses had been found compromising the ban in the district, and no businesses have been prosecuted.

Graham Hakes, principal environmental health officer at the council, said: "We've worked with and inspected over 2,000 businesses across the district since the ban.

"From building smoking shelters, to encouraging customers to go outside to smoke, business owners and staff have played a vital role in supporting and maintaining the ban."

Smokers who are trying to quit can get free, confidential advice by calling the NHS Time To Quit team on 0800 0434304.

To find out more log on to www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/ smokefree