Help Make Lyenahm Smoke Free
The health secretary, Patricia Hewitt, faced a cabinet-level battle to win support for a ban on smoking in public places, including all private members' clubs, when the government bill was introduced on Thursday 27th October 2005. Public venues are having to gear up to the fact that the law changes on the 1st July 2007.

Like it or not, it will be an offence to smoke in public enclosed spaces from the 1st July 2007, this includes pubs, night clubs, covered shopping areas and in fact Swindon Town Football Club have introduced a smoke free environment within the County Ground. There are two sides to this new law being introduced, it will please the non-smokers and upset those who enjoy social smoking in public places. Change, is what is not liked, but Scotland, Wales and Northern Island have already introduced this ban and have come to accept it.

Adults
Around 10 million adults smoke cigarettes in Great Britain: this is about a quarter of the population 25% of men and 23% of women. Smoking is highest among 20-24 year olds: 34% of men and 30% of women smoke. In 1974, 51% of men and 41% of women smoked cigarettes - nearly half the adult population. Declines in smoking have been concentrated in older people. Almost as many young people still start smoking today but more established smokers are quitting. Numbers who quit: 21% of women and 27% of men are now ex-smokers. Surveys show that about 70% of current smokers would like to give up altogether. Deaths from smoking: About half of all regular cigarette smokers will eventually be killed by their addiction. Every year, around 114,000 smokers in the UK die from smoking related causes. Tobacco smoke contains: Over 4,000 chemical compounds, present as either gases or as tiny particles. These include carbon monoxide, arsenic, formaldehyde, cyanide, benzene, toluene and acrolein.

Young people
Over 80% of smokers start as teenagers. In the United Kingdom about 450 children start smoking every day. In England one fifth of 15 year olds are regular smokers: 16% of boys and 25% of girls.It is illegal to sell cigarettes to children aged under 16.

Regional smoking rates:
Smoking rates vary in different parts of the country (defined by the Government Office of the Regions). In London and the South East 22% of adults smoke; in the North East the rate is 29%. In England overall 24% of people smoke. In Lyneham 36% of the population smoke, which breaks down to 34% female and 38% male. Smoking rates are markedly higher among poorer people.

What it second hand smoke?
Second hand smoke is the name for the sickening, poisonous smoke given off by burning tobacco - in cigarettes, roll-ups, pipes or cigars. Breathing in other people's tobacco smoke is called 'passive smoking'. The tobacco industry claims that smokers have a right to smoke. But non-smokers have a right to breathe clean air. The right to smoke ends where a non-smoker's right to breathe safe air starts.

Second hand smoke:
Contains 4000 chemicals, 60 cancer-causing agents and 200 poisons
Takes 3 hours to clear the smoke from a single cigarette from the air
Causes wheezing, coughs, colds, earaches and asthma attacks
Makes eyes red, itchy stinging and watery
Fills the air with some of the same poisons as those found around toxic waste dumps
Makes clothes and hair stink and ruins the smell and taste of food
Kills hundreds of people from lung cancer in the UK every year
Kills hundreds of people from heart and circulation problems every year
Triples the risk of cot death and causes serious lung infections in babies and children

What do you think about the new Law?
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