England 'smoke-free'

The ban on smoking in public places in England took effect from 6am on Sunday.

England was the last part of the UK where smokers could light up in pubs, bars and clubs after Wales and Northern Ireland went smoke-free in April, and Scotland in March last year.

Virtually all enclosed public places are now smoke-free, including offices, factories, pubs, cafes and railway stations.

Newly-appointed health secretary Alan Johnson said: "Labour has taken action to protect people from smoke in their workplace, pub or cafe.

"A smoke-free country will improve the health of thousands of people, reduce the temptation to smoke and encourage smokers to quit."

One of the world's leading experts on the effect of tobacco predicted on Saturday that the ban could prevent up to half a million deaths a year.

Professor Sir Richard Peto made the forecast based on the experience of the Republic of Ireland, where cigarette sales fell by around 17 per cent after a ban was introduced three years ago.

A similar trend in England could lead to 1.5 million people quitting smoking, he said.

Celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson branded the ban an "infringement of civil liberties" and pledged that pro-smoking campaigners would "fight on".

Anyone caught smoking illegally will be given a fixed penalty notice of £50 - reduced to £30 if paid in 15 days - or fined up to £200 if they are prosecuted and convicted by a court.

Owners and managers of pubs, clubs and cafes are legally bound to enforce the ban and face fines of up to £2,500 if they fail to do so.

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