Doctors campaign for ban on smoking in enclosed public places
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《英国医生杂志》
A campaign for a total ban on smoking in all enclosed public places in England has been launched by a coalition of medical organisations and health charities. Smokefree Action, set up this week by the BMA, the Royal College of Physicians, and five charities, warns that the government's proposed partial ban has not gone far enough.
John Britton, chairman of the royal college's tobacco advisory group, said: "The coalition is making clear the extent of support throughout the whole health professional community for radical leadership on tobacco policy." He said it was "frustrating that in the face of strong advice from health professionals and the chief medical officer we seem to be the slowcoaches of the UK in England in introducing good tobacco policy."
Peter Moore, aged 74, from Cavan, Ireland, enjoys a cigarette in a pub the day before the smoking ban came in to effect in Ireland last year. Now doctors in England want their country to follow Ireland's lead
Credit: REUTERS/PAUL McERLANE
The government's proposals for England would ban smoking in enclosed public places except pubs and clubs that do not serve food ( BMJ 2005;330: 1468). Up to 30% of licensed premises would be exempt. In contrast Scotland will introduce a complete ban in all pubs and enclosed public places in 2006. The Welsh Assembly is also set to introduce a complete ban.
Professor Alex Markham, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: "A comprehensive ban on smoking in enclosed public places, without exceptions, is the only practical way we can give workers the protection they deserve."
The new campaign group will ensure that medical organisations and health charities campaigning against smoking speak with a single voice, he added. "We all agree on the simple message that secondhand smoke kills and exposure in the workplace is unacceptable."
Smokefree Action, whose members include Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), Asthma UK, the National Heart Forum, the British Heart Foundation, and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, is launching a summer of campaigning as the government consults on its proposals. Members are set to meet the health minister Caroline Flint next week to press their case. Further action will include publishing medical research on passive smoking, economic research on the effect of a ban on the pub industry, and legal action to support employees who are seeking damages for workplace exposure to environmental tobacco.
Professor Britton criticised the government for "failing to lead by example" by waiting until 2006 before making all NHS premises smoke free.
Research unveiled by the campaigners this week shows that 75% of local councils in England have failed to take action on smoking beyond a ban in their own buildings.(Kay McIntosh)
John Britton, chairman of the royal college's tobacco advisory group, said: "The coalition is making clear the extent of support throughout the whole health professional community for radical leadership on tobacco policy." He said it was "frustrating that in the face of strong advice from health professionals and the chief medical officer we seem to be the slowcoaches of the UK in England in introducing good tobacco policy."
Peter Moore, aged 74, from Cavan, Ireland, enjoys a cigarette in a pub the day before the smoking ban came in to effect in Ireland last year. Now doctors in England want their country to follow Ireland's lead
Credit: REUTERS/PAUL McERLANE
The government's proposals for England would ban smoking in enclosed public places except pubs and clubs that do not serve food ( BMJ 2005;330: 1468). Up to 30% of licensed premises would be exempt. In contrast Scotland will introduce a complete ban in all pubs and enclosed public places in 2006. The Welsh Assembly is also set to introduce a complete ban.
Professor Alex Markham, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: "A comprehensive ban on smoking in enclosed public places, without exceptions, is the only practical way we can give workers the protection they deserve."
The new campaign group will ensure that medical organisations and health charities campaigning against smoking speak with a single voice, he added. "We all agree on the simple message that secondhand smoke kills and exposure in the workplace is unacceptable."
Smokefree Action, whose members include Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), Asthma UK, the National Heart Forum, the British Heart Foundation, and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, is launching a summer of campaigning as the government consults on its proposals. Members are set to meet the health minister Caroline Flint next week to press their case. Further action will include publishing medical research on passive smoking, economic research on the effect of a ban on the pub industry, and legal action to support employees who are seeking damages for workplace exposure to environmental tobacco.
Professor Britton criticised the government for "failing to lead by example" by waiting until 2006 before making all NHS premises smoke free.
Research unveiled by the campaigners this week shows that 75% of local councils in England have failed to take action on smoking beyond a ban in their own buildings.(Kay McIntosh)