News Archive Liverpool's first SmokeFree pub
Liverpool's first SmokeFree pub
September 6, 2004 - PRESS RELEASE
Liverpool's first smokefree pub
Liverpool's oldest pub today became the newest recruit to a Smokefree Liverpool.
Landlady Fiona Watkin at the popular Thomas Rigby pub in the heart of the city centre asked regulars to stub out their cigarettes for a week in an experiment to find out if a healthy environment equals healthy profits.
The move comes after Liverpool became the first UK city to declare its intent to become smokefree by 2008 the year the city celebrates its European capital of culture status.
It was during a recent trip to the United States that Fiona was converted to the benefits of smoke free pubs and restaurants.
Said Fiona, 33, herself a 40-a-day smoker: "A few months ago, if anybody had asked me to make my pub smokefree I would have laughed at the idea.
But I recently went on honeymoon to Las Vegas and the difference was amazing.
My husband and I both smoke and we really cut down on the number of cigarettes and although we haven't given up completely, it means we are both a lot healthier and closer than ever to kicking the habit."
Thomas Rigby's, one of the city's oldest pubs, opened in 1850 and last year underwent a major refurbishment.
Fiona admits she is taking a gamble but her bold decision has already won the backing of many regulars and her 16 staff, around half of whom smoke themselves.
Around 1,000 people die of smoking related diseases every year in Liverpool and 100 of them have never smoked.
Working amongst smokers can increase the risk of contracting lung cancer or heart disease by up to 30%.and the hospitality industry has a higher than average rate of lung cancer deaths.
Smokefree workplaces already exist in many places throughout the world including New York, Los Angeles, Norway and Ireland.
A move which has been welcomed, by the 73% of people who don't smoke and the 80% of smokers who want to give up.
Smokefree workplaces have also proved to be good for business.
The Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam Donaldson has reviewed the economic effects of smokefree legislation in other countries, and found that smokefree workplaces in the UK would bring a net benefit to society of between £2.3 and £2.7 billion a year, equivalent to treating 1.3 to 1.5 million people on hospital waiting lists
Mark Brandreth, project director for Smoke Free Liverpool, said: "During the week, we will be monitoring toxin levels at the pub and speaking to staff and customers about how they feel about the scheme."We will also be offering help and advice to anybody who wants it."
Notes to editors
Rigby's smokefree experiment begins on September 6th 2004 and ends on Sunday September 12th.
Evidence from smokefree cities including New York has discovered that a healthy workforce also brings in healthy profits.
Tax revenues from the hospitality increased by 12% and a further 10,000 jobs created in the sector since the city became smokefree in March 2003.
Research also shows that fewer young people will take up smoking in the first place if their workplaces are smokefree.
For more information visit www.smokefreeliverpool.com
For further information contact Roger Kenyon at Kenyon Fraser on 0161 706 9932.
