Smoking ban and shisha

Smoking Ban & Shisha

Since 1 July 2007 the Health Act 2006 makes all indoor public places, workplaces and work vehicles smoke-free.

This means that smoking (including shisha smoking) is banned in all enclosed or ‘substantially enclosed’ public places and workplaces such as pubs, restaurants, cafes, places of work, schools and health care facilities.  ‘Substantially enclosed’ premises are buildings that may have a ceiling or roof with openings in the walls which are less than half of the total area of the walls.  This is known as the “50% rule”.

It is:

• an offence to smoke in smoke-free premises
• an offence to permit others to smoke in smoke-free premises
• an offence to fail to display warning signs in smoke-free premises

 

What about vehicles?

All vehicles used for public transport, e.g. buses, trains and taxis, are also affected by the smoking ban.

Where a vehicle is used as a workplace by more than one person, regardless of whether they are in the vehicle at the same time, it is required to be smokefree at all times. 

This protects shift and other workers using the same vehicle from the hazards of second-hand smoke.

 

Are there any exemptions?

• premises which are used as a full time place of residence for extended periods, e.g. private dwellings, residential premises and designated smoking rooms in adult care homes
• designated smoking rooms in hotels, hostels, and bed & breakfast accommodation are also exempt since they are places where people live

View more information on exemptions

 

What are the penalties?

• smoking in a smoke-free place could lead to a fine of £200 - with a fixed penalty option of £50
• failure to prevent smoking in a smoke-free place can result in a fine of up to £2,500
• signage offences can incur a fine of £1,000 with a fixed penalty option of £200

How are Redbridge enforcing the smoking ban?

The Council’s enforcement staff  help to raise awareness of the smoke-free legislation.  Prosecution and the use of fixed penalty notices are seen as a last resort.

 

Shisha Smoking

The law classes shisha smoking the same as cigarette smoking and  is illegal to smoke shisha in enclosed and substantially enclosed rooms and structures in commercial premises.