Three years to a smoke-free Southampton

JUST three years from now, Southampton could be a smoke-free city.

More than 20 local organisations and agencies have signed up to a smoke-free charter, pledging to implement smoking bans at their premises.

The move - announced today on national No Smoking Day - is seen as a crucial first step to making Southampton a smoke-free zone by 2008.

Health officials hope that every enclosed public space, including pubs, clubs, restaurants and public buildings, can be made smoke free in the next few years.

The ambitious target has been set after figures revealed that smoking was responsible for one in three deaths in Southampton.

Latest government statistics showed 42 per cent of men and 27 per cent of women died from smoking related illnesses such as cancer, heart failure and respiratory diseases.

Today it was confirmed that smoking was also killing non-smokers in Southampton.

Figures released by Southampton City Primary Care Trust reveal about 18 people a year die in Southampton as a result of passive smoking.

Children, in particular, are vulnerable to second-hand smoke.

Research showed youngsters exposed to cigarette smoke have an increased risk of respiratory disease, while babies are more at danger from cot death.

Now a partnership made up from Southampton agencies and organisations have committed themselves to working towards a smoke-free environment for the future health of the city's children.

Southampton's director of public health, Andrew Mortimore, said: "This is a really important decision, which will improve the health of the people of Southampton.

"This charter will help to protect people from the dangers of passive smoking and support those smokers who want to quit.

"The partnership has put in place an action plan to make Southampton smoke free by 2008.

"All of the organisations in the partnership are working to make their premises smoke free, all the time encouraging organisations they work with to do the same.

"It's a big challenge to get Southampton completely smoke free by 2008 but as the government changes legislation around smoking, the partnership want to be at the forefront making positive changes in Southampton."

The action plan includes:

Banning smoking in all buildings and services owned and run by partnership agencies.

Working with customs officials and police to tackle counterfeiting and smuggling.

Giving employees access to professional advice and support services if they want to stop smoking.

Doing everything possible to protect employees from the dangers of second-hand smoke

Last year, more than 1,500 Southampton people successfully quit smoking with the help of the NHS, in a city where 35 per cent of the population smokes.

Health experts hope thousands more will kick the habit as part of the drive to make Southampton smoke free.

More than 30 cities and towns across England are known to be considering introducing smoking bans in enclosed public places, following the government's refusal to implement national rules.

Liverpool and London are leading the way, having already started parliamentary steps to enable them to implement a ban next year.

Both private bills are currently being steered through the House of Lords.

If subsequently passed by parliament, smoking bans could be enforced by both local councils, with possible fines of up to £1,000 for anyone who breaches the legislation.

It is unclear how Southampton would enforce such a ban and whether it would ever come to a situation where smokers lighting up in a public place would be served with fixed penalty notices. They are watching closely the leads set by Liverpool and London.

The moves follow the government's public health White Paper last year, which proposed a ban on smoking in public places apart from pubs, which did not serve food, and private members' clubs from 2008.

A smoking ban was introduced in New York in March 2003, followed by Ireland in March 2004. A ban is also proposed for Scotland.

The charity No Smoking Day today welcomed Southampton's plans to go smoke-free.

A spokesman said: "This should have a dramatic impact on the health and well-being of the population."

But business experts claim trade at the city's pubs could plummet, potentially putting hundreds of jobs at risk.

One report claimed pubs in Dublin had suffered a 25 per cent drop in trade since the smoking ban was introduced - potentially putting Southampton city centre venues at similar risk.

British American Tobacco's cigarette making factory in Southampton, which currently allows smoking in virtually all areas including its offices, has already accepted it will have to change its policy.

A spokesman said: "We do not want to see a total smoking ban because we feel strongly about personal freedom and an individual's right to choose. However, we believe our premises in the UK will have to become non-smoking, as they have in Ireland."

Smokers' lobby group Forest insisted most people would favour restrictions on smoking as opposed to a citywide ban.

Director Simon Clark said: "Tobacco is a legal product and there are a great many people who choose to smoke and don't want to give up. It is unreasonable that they should be banned from smoking in all indoor public places."

Southampton PCT's smoking cessation advisers will be on hand at The Mall Marlands shopping centre between 10am and 3pm today to give advice about how to quit.

Alternatively, contact City Quitters on 023 8051 5221 or the NHS Smoking Helpline on 0800 169 0169.

AGENCIES WHICH HAVE SIGNED UP TO SOUTHAMPTON'S SMOKE FREE CHARTER ARE:

Southampton City Primary Care Trust

Southampton City Council

Business Link Wessex

Hampshire Constabulary

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Learning and Skills Council

Job Centre Plus

Business Link Wessex

Chamber of Commerce

Children and Young People's Strategic Partnership

City Centre Management Board

City Environment Partnership

Community and Voluntary Sector Network

Cultural Consortium

Health and Social Care Partnership

Neighbourhoods Partnerships

Partnership4Learning

Southampton Housing Partnership

Southampton Institute

University of Southampton

Southampton Regeneration Executive

Southampton Safe City Partnership

Southampton Sustainability Forum

Southampton Transport Forum

SOUTHAMPTON'S SMOKE FREE CHARTER COMMITS PARTNERSHIP AGENCIES TO:

Reduce smoking rates in Southampton

Inform local people about the dangers of smoking and passive smoking

Encourage and support smokers who want to give up

Protect non-smokers from the damaging effects of passive smoking

Enforce the law on advertising and sale of tobacco products to under 16s

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Should Southampton be made a smoke-free zone by the year 2008?

Contact Daily Echo health reporter Sarah Cole at Newspaper House, Test Lane, Redbridge, Southampton SO16 9JX or telephone 023 80 424501 or e-mail her using the link above. You can also vote in our poll at the foot of the 'This is Southampton' homepage.