Smokefree trailer to stop at sporting event
Released: 20 June 2007
Hundreds of visitors and participants at the Black Country Youth Games will have the chance to find out more about the imminent introduction of smokefree legislation.
An information trailer will be at the sports event at Aldersley Leisure Village in Wolverhampton on Friday 29 June to raise awareness of how the smokefree law will work when it comes into force on 1 July.
It will be the latest stop for the information trailer, which has visited a number of Black Country towns over the last two months.
Around 600 children from Dudley, Wolverhampton, Sandwell and Walsall will compete at the youth games which run from around 10am to 2pm. The games will involve a mix of competitions including athletics, badminton, basketball, cricket, football, hockey and judo.
Councillor Pat Byrne, Wolverhampton City Council Cabinet Member for the Environment, said: “The trailer has proved to be really successful at all of its visits to town centres and events across the Black Country.
“It has been an important part of a range of efforts to build understanding of the requirements of the legislation.
“A lot of work has been undertaken to support people to be ready for the changes which will create a new experience for customers and staff alike at venues across the country.”
From 1 July it will be illegal to smoke in most indoor places other than private homes. This includes restaurants, bars, cafes, hotels, theatres, bingo halls, sports centres, shopping centres, taxis, public transport, schools and hospitals.
Nearly every workplace will be affected and the legislation covers any vehicle capable of being used as a place of work by more than one person.
Councils will have responsibility for enforcing the new law and will have the power to issue a £50 fine to anyone caught smoking in a public indoor venue.
If venue owners allow people to smoke on their premises they can be issued with a £2,500 fine. Fines are also payable if venues do not display adequate no-smoking signs.
Wolverhampton City Primary Care Trust offers a range of support, advice and a two-week free supply of nicotine replacement therapy (subject to medical history) to people wanting to stop smoking. Drop-in quit smoking sessions are also held across the city and people can visit the Stop Smoking Shop open Monday to Saturday 10.30am to 3pm in the link shopping mall between the Wulfrun and Mander centres, opposite The Entertainer toy store. For more information, contact Wolverhampton’s stop smoking service on 0800 073 42 42.
For further information on the new smokefree legislation and how it affects Wolverhampton see www.wolverhampton.gov.uk/smokefree or call 01902 551155.
Additional information is also available on the Smokefree England information line on 0800 169 1697 or by going to www.smokefreeengland.co.uk.
Issued by the press office.