Originally published October 27 2005
British smoking ban allows for exceptions
by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, NaturalNews Editor
Although the British medical community and workers' unions lobbied for a complete smoking ban, the government has decided to exempt private members' clubs.
The Government is to publish a Bill to ban smoking in pubs in England on Thursday, Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt has said.
But private members' clubs are to be exempted from the ban.
And pubs where no food is served will be able to choose whether they permit smoking or not, said Ms Hewitt.
Ms Hewitt's announcement follows days of wrangling in the Cabinet, leading to accusations that the Government's handling of the Health Improvement and Protection Bill has descended into a shambles.
The compromise will be seen as a victory for Ms Hewitt's predecessor as Health Secretary, John Reid, who wanted the Government to stick to Labour's manifesto pledge to ban smoking in the workplace, but exempt membership clubs and pubs where no food is served.
In a statement, Ms Hewitt said: "I shall introduce a Health Bill to the House of Commons.
"As promised in Labour's manifesto, the Health Bill will include a ban on smoking in enclosed workplaces and public places which will cover 99% of the workforce."
Ms Hewitt said the Cabinet had agreed to make all restaurants and pubs preparing and serving food smoke-free.
But she said membership clubs would be exempt from the ban, and non-food pubs and bars will be "free to choose whether to allow smoking, or be smoke-free".
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