Croydon Update
Smoking breaks face council ban
19th October 2006
Kerry McQueeney
Kerry McQueeney
Smokers at the council’s Taberner House are to have cigarette breaks withdrawn and instead offered nicotine replacement therapy to help them quit.
The moves are to be introduced by Croydon Council as part of next year’s ban on smoking in public places.
Smoking has already been banned in all non-residential council buildings but from January 2007 cigarette breaks’ will be withdrawn and all outdoor ashtrays will be removed from council premises.
Council staff will be offered reduced-rate nicotine patches and counselling to help them give up.
Smokers reacted angrily to the news. One, who did not want to be identified, said: “This is an infringement of human rights. Many people need their cigarette breaks to cope with the stress of work. Nicotine withdrawal is not nice and there will be a riot here if people aren’t able to get their fix.
“I think everyone agrees that the smoking ban is better for people’s health in general but the council can’t force people to give up. If someone wants to poison their body with cigarettes it’s their choice.”
Under the new policy the six five-minute breaks taken by smokers at Taberner House every day will be withdrawn from January. However, if smokers still want a cigarette they will be able to do so in their lunch hour.
Mervyn D’Cruze, assistant branch secretary of Croydon Unison, said: “Queens Gardens is still public property so people could smoke there.
“People might want to think about just taking half an hour for lunch then using their extra time to smoke.
“We broadly agree with these moves. It is hoped that they will act as an incentive when people try and give up in the new year.”
The revised policy has not been implemented in schools but the council plans to urge all headteachers to adopt the changes.
Joint deputy leader Councillor Steve O’Connell, said: “I know this will cause some discomfort to smokers but the point is to put everyone’s health first.
“I have no doubt that a year or two down the line it won’t even be a topic of conversation and we will have cleared a major hurdle towards improving public health in general.”
