January is smokefree month for Liverpool

January is going to be 'smokefree workplace month' in Liverpool, according to campaigners.

SmokeFree Liverpool and their partners will be focusing on the progress made in 2005, and the host of events planned for January and beyond, as the city moves towards making all workplaces permanently smokefree, as soon as possible.

The New Year starts with the city's 180-plus schools going smokefree, and all Liverpool NHS sites as well - including hospitals and clinics.

In January, there will also be:

• A visit to Cork by around a dozen Liverpool publicans, to see how the licensed trade has fared since Ireland went smokefree nearly two years ago;
• Smokefree nights at pubs and clubs in the city, and smokefree events involving the Somali and Muslim communities;
• An advertising campaign;
• Coffee shops and other premises going smokefree;
• Superlambanana repainted in smokefree colours;
• A smokefree play launched;
• Air quality tests at 20 private members' clubs;
• Smokefree sessions with hundreds of building workers.

In addition, the Liverpool City Council Smokefree Bill will go to the Committee Stage in Parliament in the New Year, when it will be discussed in depth - and the Government's final proposals for smokefree legislation will be announced.

"All this activity means that it's natural to focus on the issue for a month - with an eye on the huge changes which we hope will take effect in 2006," said Andy Hull, Chair of SmokeFree Liverpool.

"In 2005, around 12,000 Liverpool people sent postcards to the Government, supporting 100% smokefree workplace legislation, and it's clear the city is backing the smokefree movement to the hilt."

Mr Hull invited businesses which are considering going smokefree to 'take the plunge' in the New Year, and for people planning smokefree events to let the SmokeFree Liverpool team know.

"There is no doubt now that comprehensive smokefree legislation is on its way: those businesses which go down the smokefree route will be ahead of the game and will see real benefits," he said.

Cllr Gideon Ben-Tovim, who is Chair of Central Liverpool PCT as well as Joint Chair of the SmokeFree Liverpool Stakeholder Group, said: "The health benefits of going smokefree are well established, and our resolution for the New Year is to continue to press for legislation which will mean all workers will be treated in the same way, and be able to go to work without being at risk from other people's smoke."

Cllr Richard Oglethorpe, Joint Chair of the Stakeholder Group and Council Executive Member for Green Issues, added: "2005 has been a tremendously significant year for the campaign, with great progress made, and we think 2006 will see even greater strides towards making Liverpool the first city in England to make all workplaces - including pubs and clubs - smokefree.

Ends

Further information from Roger Kenyon on 0151 706 9932.

Activities include:

• January 5 - NHS smokefree photocall
• Smokefree nights inc Rotunda Boxing Club, Blind Tiger, bingo halls
• Smokefree play launched - Croxteth Communiversity
• Jan 12 - smoking cessation and smokefree session with 300 workers at waterfront building site
• Smokefree Youth Group activities
• Jan 24/25 - Cork visit