SmokeFree Liverpool Study Visit to New York

April 13, 2004 - PRESS RELEASE

SmokeFree Liverpool Study Visit to New York

A group of health professionals from Liverpool is to visit New York on a fact-finding study visit.

Members of the SmokeFree Liverpool group will meet with public officials, business owners and workers who have benefited from the smoking ban, which extends across all public places in New York.

It is now 12 months since Mayor Bloomberg introduced legislation banning smoking in all public places and the group from Liverpool has been invited to meet key members of the New York team including Tom Frieden, Commissioner of the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and Mike O'Neal, a restaurant owner and member of Smoke Free Coalition. The visit runs from April 17 to 21.

Dr. Paula Grey, Director of Public Health at Central Liverpool PCT, said: "I believe the study visit to New York and the opportunity of meeting the professionals who have introduced smokefree legislation to the city will be a valuable experience.

"It will be an opportunity to learn what was important in getting support from employers and the public and what pitfalls to avoid.

"From my own point of view it will also provide an opportunity to see any signs that health has improved since the action was taken."

So far the results from New York are encouraging. Workers are now enjoying better health and employment opportunities created by more people socialising. This has been shown by a 12% increase in tax revenues and 10,000 extra jobs created in the hospitality sector.

Although there are no laws that guarantee the right to a safe, smoke-free workplace in Liverpool, the campaigners, who include business people as well as health professionals, aim to encourage a smoke free culture across the city.

SmokeFree Liverpool launched at the end of March, and is mounting an extensive awareness campaign, as well as inviting views through its website, www.smokefreeliverpool.com

Liverpool has close historic links with New York and has joined forces on other important initiatives including police and fire authority exchanges.

For more information about the trip and the campaign itself Chris Owens, Co-ordinator of SmokeFree Liverpool, is available on 0151 794 8908.

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Further media information from Roger Kenyon on 0151 706 9932.