SAYING NO HAS BEEN A BIG YES FOR OUR HEALTH
It’s 20 years since the ban on smoking in the workplace was imposed
IRELAND’S workplace smoking ban saved more than 3,700 lives in less than four years after its introduction, campaigners who gathered to mark its 20th anniversary insisted yesterday.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin, who pushed through the legislation as Health Minister in 2004, was joined at Government buildings by representatives of the Irish Heart Foundation, its voluntary ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) council and other organisations involved in its initiation.
The official anniversary of the ban – the first of its kind in the world – falls on Good Friday.
Mr Martin said the landmark public health measure, which outlawed smoking inside every workplace, including pubs and restaurants, represented one of the “most memorable and significant moments” of his political career.
“At the time, there was huge opposition to the smoking ban and doubts over whether it would ever succeed, particularly in our hospitality industry.
WANTED
“The decision sparked ferocious debate in what was the first real discussion on public health in Ireland.
“Shortly after its introduction, it came to be viewed as an important protective measure for the health of workers in every sector. It was clear that the general public wanted it.
“Despite its success, we cannot allow ourselves to become complacent when it comes to the war on smoking. Tobacco, along with the new threat of vaping, is continuing to cause huge damage to people in this country.”
The health benefits of the ban are beyond question.
Chris Macey, Director of Advocacy and Patient Support with the Irish Heart Foundation, described the ban as “one of the most important pieces of legislation” ever introduced.
“It is estimated that it saved more than 3,700 lives in Ireland in the first three-and-a-half years after its implementation – almost 2.7 lives a day – and resulted in an immediate 26% reduction in ischaemic heart disease and a 32% drop in strokes.
“As countries across the world followed suit, the lifesaving impact of the law is beyond measure.”
Mr Macey warned, however, that two decades on, Ireland must pursue “bold and ambitious measures” on tobacco and vape control.
“Tobacco is still responsible for 4,500 deaths a year in Ireland, while an e-cigarette epidemic is responsible for driving nicotine addiction among young people.
“Smoking rates among teenagers are increasing for the first time in a generation, most likely due to the gateway effect from vaping.”
Statistics back this up. Data from EU statistics agency Eurostat shows Ireland has the seventh lowest smoking rate of 30 European nations.
However, we have the fourthhighest rate of vapers. The Irish Heart Foundation believes the Government now needs to raise the legal age for the sale of tobacco and vaping products from 18 to 21.
DIFFICULTIES
Ireland, said Mr Macey, also needs to follow British proposals which would make it illegal for anyone born after a certain year to buy tobacco products, which can be done by raising the legal age for its sale by one year, every year.
“Ireland can become a tobacco and nicotine-free society, but only bold, ambitious measures can achieve this reality,” he said.
However, it is far from clear whether this will take place in the UK, amid much debate on how it can actually be enforced, with retailers citing the practical difficulties of demanding ID from customers.
New Zealand recently abandoned the scheme upon which planned British legislation is based, saying the combined loss of excise revenue and the creation of a black market would make it unworkable.
Still, other countries are pressing ahead with their own schemes to make smoking history – Mexico has some of the world’s strictest antitobacco laws, including bans at beaches, parks and, in some cases, private homes.
Portugal aims to have a “smoke-free generation” by 2040, and wants to pass a law that would stop bars, cafes and petrol stations from selling tobacco products.
Canada wants to reduce tobacco use to under 5% by 2035 and earlier this year was the first country to rule that health warnings should be printed on individual cigarettes.