Wales’ public smoking ban celebrated its tenth anniversary on April 2, with doctors and politicians hailing its impact.
Wales’ ban came into effect a month earlier than England’s. Assembly Members had voted for the ban back in 2003, but could not change the law until legislation was passed by Parliament.
The percentage of adults smoking is now at a record low according to the Welsh Government. The 2015 Welsh Health Survey showed that 19% of adults smoke – a significant decrease from 25% in 2005/06.
Public Health Minister Rebecca Evans AM, said: “The ban on smoking in indoor public places has been a huge success. The percentage of adults smoking is now at a record low. This will improve people’s health and life expectancy, and will reduce pressures on the NHS.
“It also means that future generations are protected from the effects of smoking, and do not grow up seeing it as a normal activity.
“We are continuing our efforts to support smokers to quit by signposting them to free NHS cessation services. If passed, the Public Health Bill will ban smoking in playgrounds, schools and hospital grounds, to continue the remarkable culture-change we have seen around smoking in Wales in recent years.”
The minister has also announced funding of £417,000 over three years to anti-smoking charity ASH Wales to further drive done the levels of people smoking.
Labour’s Islwyn AM Rhianon Passmore added: “The Welsh Labour Government led the way in the UK by banning smoking in public places. Reflecting on the progress made in the last ten years makes it clear that the ban has been a huge success.
“The ban has improved air quality and protected countless individuals from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.”
The British Medical Association has hailed the ban as Wales’ greatest public health initiative in more than a century.
Dr Phil Banfield, the Chair of the BMA’s Welsh Council, said: “The ban on smoking in enclosed public places, which came into effect a decade ago, was the greatest public health initiative in Wales for over a century.
“The BMA campaigned for years to ban smoking in enclosed public places, to prioritise the health of those living in Wales.
“Since its introduction, there has been a reported decline in the number of smokers in Wales. The health benefits of this cannot be overestimated, for those who have stopped smoking and those subject to passive smoking.
“It’s important to mark what was an ambitious policy, a decade after coming into effect, and to reflect on how health initiatives can have a positive and significant impact on the nation’s health.”