Northern Irish Smoking Ban

The Smoking (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 comes into effect on Monday 30th April 2007. From this date smoking will no longer be permitted in any enclosed or substantially enclosed premises or vehicles that are open to the public including pubs, restaurants and all places of work (some exceptions apply including designated smoking rooms in hotels or residential nursing homes). Should these regulations be contravened individuals can face on the spot fines of £50 which can rise to up to £1000 should the issue be brought to Court. Employers/managers of the premises can also face a fine of £200 if correct signs are not displayed. .

Obligations:

• Display specific signage at each entrance, in a prominent position visible to all employees, customers and visitors.

• Premises signage must contain a smoking prohibition sign, of A5 size or larger and contain the wording “No Smoking. It is against the law to smoke in these premises”. Alternatives to the wording can be used when relating specifically to the premises itself (e.g. replace “these premises” with “this hotel”)

• Secondary ‘employee only’ entrances to smoke-free buildings, where a main entrance has at least one of the above specified signs, a smoking prohibition symbol of 75mm (dia.) is the minimum requirement

• For entrances to smoke-free premises within another smoke-free premises (e.g. at an entrance to a shop within a indoor shopping centre) minimum requirement is to display a smoking prohibition symbol of at least 75mm (dia.)

• All public transport (including taxis, trains and buses) plus business owned vehicles that may carry more than one specified employee need to display a sign containing a smoking prohibition symbol of at least 75mm diameter in each compartment that could carry passengers (e.g. a black cab must have a sign in the front and the rear of the taxi)