【明報專訊】On 29 March 2004, Ireland (愛爾蘭) became the first country in the world to ban smoking in all indoor workplaces and enclosed public areas, including restaurants and bars. It was considered ''landmark legislation'' in the global tobacco control campaign. The legislation was a breakthrough in maintaining public health. A survey carried out in the UK shows that a ban on smoking in public places might lead to voluntary quitting of smoking. One out of four households has become smoke-free in Ireland since smoking in public places was banned. However, opponents were worried that the ban might harm the economy.
1. Smoking ban in Ireland
In the ten years before 2004, companies in Ireland were allowed to choose to impose a voluntary or partial ban on smoking. The measure is aimed at protecting Irish workers from passive smoking, which is as harmful to health as direct smoking.
Under the 2004 legislation, if a person is found smoking in a pub, restaurant or an enclosed workplace, its proprietors (業主) will be liable to a fine not exceeding 3,000 euros.
According to 2013 figures, 22% of people aged 15 or above in Ireland smoke regularly. In October 2013, the Health Minister of Ireland announced a plan to make the country completely tobacco-free by 2025 (with the number of smokers smaller than 5% of the population). Under this plan, tobacco will still be available in the country, but it will become costlier and costlier, and the sale of tobacco products will be restricted to certain types of outlets. At the same time cigarette vending machines will be banned.
2. Controversy
Supporters of the 2004 legislation believe it will prevent passive smoking and encourage smokers to quit the habit. However, controversy has arisen about banning smoking in restaurants and pubs. Some are worried that the ban would harm business.
Because of the legislation, some publicans in Dublin, the capital of Ireland, have had wall-mounted ashtrays set up and provided smokers with heated outdoor areas.
3. Disadvantages of smoking
Former Taoiseach (Prime Minister) of Ireland Bertie Ahern once said, ''Being in a room in which there are smokers means being exposed to at least 50 agents known to cause cancer and other chemicals that increase blood pressure, damage the lungs and cause abnormal kidney function.''
There is no denying that smoking is very hazardous to health and may cause death. According to a research published on the New England Journal of Medicine in January 2013, a smoker's life expectancy is at least ten years shorter than a non-smoker's (unless he quits smoking before 40 years old). Smoking increases the risk of trachea (氣管), lung and bronchus (支氣管) cancers, the ischemic (缺血性) heart disease and chronic airway obstruction. According to the World Health Organisation, in 2015, 6 million people died of tobacco-related causes, and more than 600,000 of them were non-smokers exposed to second-hand smoke.
4. Smoking ban in Hong Kong
The World Health Organisation believes legislation is the heart of effective tobacco control. In Hong Kong, the Smoking (Public Health) Ordinance (Cap 371), which was adopted in 1982, is the major part of the legal framework of tobacco control. The Tobacco Control Office (控煙辦公室) was established in February 2001 to co-ordinate tobacco control efforts. Statutory (法定的) no-smoking areas in Hong Kong include:
1. restaurants and shops
2. indoor workplaces
3. public transport facilities and public outdoor places like the Hong Kong Wetland Park, running tracks and sidewalks.
The Smoking Ordinance provides that any person who wilfully obstructs a tobacco control inspector in the performance of his duty commits an offence and is liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000.
