SmokeFree Liverpool's Irish connection

November 4, 2004 - PRESS RELEASE

A group of representatives from Smokefree Liverpool is to visit Dublin next week to learn the lessons of the Irish smoking ban. The group is comprised of officials from the City Council, as well as health, community and voluntary organisations and the hospitality industry.

The three-day study visit will allow Smokefree Liverpool to gain a unique insight into the smoking legislation, which came into force across Ireland earlier this year.

High-ranking officials from Ireland will discuss a range of issues - from the importance of partnership to the legal and practical moves which helped put the ban into place. The group will also meet government officials involved in the creation of a smokefree Ireland and speak with members of the hospitality industry.

Smokefree Liverpool Project Director Mark Brandreth said: "The visit will enable us to consider how we can implement the changes we are proposing for Liverpool.

"We hope that we can learn some lessons from how they did it and bring the learning back so that when Liverpool goes smokefree we make a real difference to the health of our workforce.

"We plan to talk to officials from the government as well as the hotel, restaurant and bar associations so we can make sure that it has a real positive impact on Liverpool.

"Ireland has now been smokefree for six months and we hear that it has gone really well. We want to ensure the same when we go smokefree in Liverpool."

Liverpool City Council voted on 20th October to progress a Local Act of Parliament which would restrict smoking in restaurants, pubs, shops, offices and enclosed workplaces. The Bill will be deposited with the House of Lords before the 27th November and could become law within 18 months.

In the meantime, Smokefree Liverpool intends to step up its campaign to persuade employers to make workplaces smokefree - without waiting for any legislation to come into effect.