First betting shop to go smokefree in Liverpool

January 30, 2006

Liverpool betting company Bechers Betting Ltd has become the first of its kind to join the SmokeFree Liverpool campaign.

The family business, made up of eight betting shops across Liverpool, is using their Childwall branch as a pilot for their decision to be a 100% smokefree workplace.

Manager of the Childwall shop, Mike Gardner said: "Although some of our regular customers are very heavy smokers, other customers were increasingly asking for the extractor fan to be put on and making comments on the smoky atmosphere, so it was a natural decision to go smokefree and since we have it's been nothing but positive feedback.

Also, as it's a family business and we are all non smokers it wasn't a healthy working environment for us, including my two children, who are very concerned about the health effects of other peoples' smoke".

Frances Molloy, Director of Health@Work, an independant charity offering free occupational health and safety support and advice to SME's, and a partner in SmokeFree Liverpool, said: " Secondhand smoke is a serious workplace health hazard that can only be controlled through the introduction of a completely smokefree policy. Health@Work can offer free help and advice to businesses who want to protect their staff and implement smokefree workplaces."

SmokeFree Liverpool Programme Director, Andrea Crossfield said: "Betting shops are often notoriously smoky and the fact that there are so many, in cities such as Liverpool, means that a huge number of workers are continuously being exposed to second hand smoke.

It's great to see Bechers Betting taking the first step in going smokefree and we hope that more betting companies will follow suit".

For more information on becoming a smokefree workplace contact Keith Gorman at Health@Work on 0151 236 6608.

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For further information please contact Eilidh Robertson at Kenyon Fraser on 0151 706 9984

NOTES TO EDITOR
Note to Editors:

1. SmokeFree Liverpool is campaigning for 100% smokefree legislation in all workplaces and aim to be the first city in England to achieve this.
2. The legislation is being supported by SmokeFree Liverpool, a partnership between health groups, Heart of Mersey, Liverpool City Council, Health@Work, Liverpool Chamber of Commerce, TUC in the North West and the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation.
3. Under the Liverpool City Council (Prohibition of Smoking Places in Places of Work) Bill, any individual or business in breach of the new law will face fines of up to £5,000. The legislation is similar to laws already in force in Ireland, New York, Norway and Los Angeles.