About 7 000 Irish people have stopped smoking since a draconian ban on lighting up in public places was introduced a year ago, Prime Minister Bertie Ahern said on Friday.

"It is clear that the ban on smoking in the workplace is having a positive effect, not only on the health of the nation, but also on the functioning of our health services," Ahern said in a statement to mark his country's cancer society fund-raising day.

Ireland's ban, introduced on March 29 last year, outlawed smoking in every workplace including pubs and restaurants and even on fishing boats and in company cars.

Anyone found breaching it faces a fine of up to 3 000 euros and pubs run the risk of ultimately losing their licence.

Ahern said the ban would have major long-term health benefits as about 90 percent of all lung cancers, one of the commonest forms of cancer, are related to both active and passive smoking.

The ban was strongly opposed by Ireland's pub owners but Ahern said the implementation of the groundbreaking measure had proved to be an outstanding success.

"Compliance levels throughout the various sectors have remained consistently high, with overall compliance of 94 percent being recorded by the Office of Tobacco Control.

"Right across the country, people value being able to work and socialise in a clean and healthy environment," he said.

Despite their new healthy smoke-free atmosphere, business in Ireland's 10 000 pubs — for long the centre of much of social life — has been hit by the ban.

Drink sales are down but the fall is being blamed not just on the smoking ban but also by rising prices and a change in lifestyle resulting from a tougher policy on drink driving and a shift to greater home entertaining.

Ahern said a government-backed smoking "quitline", set up 18 months ago, has received over 30 000 calls.

"It is estimated that 7 000 smokers have given up smoking, with many more reducing their intake of tobacco products considerably.

"Not only are smoke-free enclosed workplaces being accepted as the norm, they are also seen as a right. People now recognise passive smoking as a serious health and safety issue and wish to be protected from it," Ahern said.

AFP

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