Smokers could be hit with a double whammy ban by being prohibited from lighting up outside places of work across Northern Ireland.

Draft legislation, which is currently being finalised by Health Minister Paul Goggins, says that when buildings here become smoke-free as part of the province-wide ban next April, certain permitted smoking areas could be axed.

Article 5 of the plans says: “The Department may make regulations designating as smoke-free any place or description of place that is not smoke-free under Article 3.

“The place or places falling within the description need not be enclosed or substantially enclosed.

“The Department may designate a place or description of place under this Article only if satisfied that, without the designation, persons present there would be likely to be exposed to smoke.”

The legislation also says that these places will only be smoke free “in specified circumstances” and “at specified times”.

Meanwhile, in England, which will see a ban from next summer, anti-smoking campaigners have welcomed proposals in the Government’s Health Bill that could see smoking banned in stadiums, bus shelters and office entrances.

Health Minister Lord Warner told peers that ministerial powers under the Bill might be used to ban smoking in “sports stadia, bus shelters and entrances to public buildings or workplaces”.

These were, he explained, examples of non-enclosed public places where there was risk of harm from second-hand smoke.

Last year, in an interview with the Belfast Telegraph, then Health Minister Shaun Woodward promised not to shy away from imposing “heavy” fines on pubs or hotels persistently flouting the law over smoking.

And he said: “Be no under no illusions – it will be about enforcement.

“It will be about very heavy fines.

“I suspect the most effective way of dealing with this is the establishment rather than the individual.

“In the Republic they have a fine of €3,000.

“We will have to consult on this, but I will not be afraid of imposing a fine of that level if that is the most effective way to proceed.”

At the time, doctors’ leaders warned Mr Woodward to hold his nerve as it emerged licensed trade representatives will continue pushing for compromises over the ban.

Source: Belfast Telegraph