[Intl-tobacco] UK: PM to stub out plan for ban on public smoking

[Robert Weissman]

PM to stub out plan for ban on public smoking
Web posted at: 9/22/2003 2:12:53
Source ::: The Times

London: Tony Blair is to block plans to introduce a US-style ban on smoking
in public places.

The prime minister has told colleagues that any step of this kind would
be a
severe restriction on people=92s freedoms and would increase red tape for
business.

With his difficulties over Iraq and public services, he has been warned tha=
t
he risks alienating around a third of the electorate who smoke. =93Tony=92s=
 view
is that the best way to do this is through voluntary measures with business=
,=94
said a senior government figure.

=93There is increasing evidence that businesses are willing to do something
about it themselves.=94

Blair has yet to make his view public but privately has no truck with Europ=
ean
Union plans to outlaw smoking in bars, restaurants and cafes. He also
disagrees with proposals put forward by his own chief medical officer, Sir
Liam Donaldson, for a ban on smoking in public places.

John Reid, the health secretary and a former smoker, is also opposed to
draconian measures. In New York, where a ban was introduced in March,
offenders face fines of =A3150. The EU=92s health commission said last week
that it wanted all member countries to follow suit.