We are proud to display our Roy Castle Gold Award to reinforce our commitment to smoke-free air. We want to build on the progress of recent years. At present, non-smokers are often exposed to the health risks, discomfort and irritation of tobacco smoke, while smokers often get forced to smoke on the street. The friction and aggravation felt by smokers and non-smokers alike is the result of a lack of proper choice. The health risks are clear.
Passive smoking does carry risks but they are small compared to the risks of active smoking.
Hundreds of people die every year in the UK as a result of high levels of exposure to passive smoke. We do not think a universal ban on smoking in all public places is justified while we can make fast and substantial progress in partnership with industry. We have looked very carefully at the case for an outright ban, or legal restrictions, like the ones tried in some other countries. A number of countries have tried an outright ban on smoking in bars and restaurants. But such restrictions have proved difficult to implement.