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Smoke-free zones piloted in Bristol
Bristol is set to become the first city in the UK to introduce smoke-free zones in public areas.
The voluntary scheme, which will operate in Millennium Square and Anchor Square, is launched today.
Fiona Andrews, director of Smokefree South West, said she expect the scheme to police itself and she hopes the initiative “will have a lasting impact”.
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“These city centre squares are often full of children playing and this pilot will provide a smoke-free environment for kids and their families to enjoy.”
Cllr Daniella Radice, assistant mayor for Public Health at Bristol City Council, added that she was “excited to see how this pilot can change people’s habits and make Bristol an even more enjoyable place to live and to visit”.
However, Simon Clark, director of the smokers’ group Forest told Bristol 24/7 “there is no justification for banning smoking in the open-air” and there is “no evidence that children start smoking because they see a stranger lighting-up”.
He added: “We are concerned that it may be voluntary now, but in future it will be enforced and smokers will be prosecuted and fined for lighting-up”.
“The idea that Bristol will somehow be cleaner and fresher because of this is nonsense.”
Smoke-free zones have already been introduced in New York, Toronto and Hong Kong but Bristol is the first UK city to pilot smoke-free zones.
Image: villorejo/Shutterstock.com
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