A prohibition on smoking in all places of work, including licensed premises, is being introduced from January 2004. This prohibition is based on recommendations contained in the report on the health effects of environmental tobacco smoke, ETS, in the workplace prepared by an independent scientific working group commissioned by the Office of Tobacco Control and the Health and Safety Authority which was published on 30 January 2003. The primary purpose of the prohibition is to protect the health and safety of workers and the public from exposure to toxic environmental tobacco smoke.
Similar prohibitions have been in place in parts of the United States, in particular in California and New York and the experience there has been positive. Clearly being able to work and socialise in an environment free from the harmful effects of exposure to environmental tobacco smoke is a welcome development which has positive health benefits for all concerned.