St Helena : St Helena: NEW TOBACCO RULES - IN FORCE THIS SATURDAY – 1 SEPTEMBER 2012
Submitted by Saint Helena Herald (Public Relations Information Office) 31.08.2012 (Article Archived on 14.09.2012)
On Saturday 1 September, most of the new tobacco rules will come into force. In the lead up to Saturday SHG has issued material explaining the new Ordinance, informing the public of changes and encouraging people to stop smoking.
NEW TOBACCO RULES - IN FORCE THIS SATURDAY – 1 SEPTEMBER 2012
On Saturday 1 September, most of the new tobacco rules will come into force. In the lead up to Saturday SHG has issued material explaining the new Ordinance, informing the public of changes and encouraging people to stop smoking.
This final release summarises the key changes under the Tobacco Control Ordinance and reminds the public of the new rules introduced on Saturday.
The new Tobacco Control Ordinance will ban smoking in public premises and workplaces, and in vehicles accessed by the public (such as taxis and buses) or used by persons in connection with paid or unpaid work.
The rules about workplaces and vehicles used for work do not apply if the place or vehicle is only ever used by the same person. If they are used by two or more people, even if they use them at different times, then the smoke free rule applies.
However, there is provision for smoke free premises to designate a clearly marked Smoking Area which does not allow smoke to escape into other parts of the building. Such areas must be clearly marked by a suitable sign.
Smoke free premises and vehicles must, from Saturday 1 September, display ‘No Smoking’ signs that can be easily read by users.
‘No Smoking’ signs in must display this ‘No Smoking’ symbol:
In the case of premises, the signs must also bear the words: “No Smoking. It is against the law to smoke in these premises”.
Owners of premises or vehicles who fail to display ‘No Smoking’ signs may be fined up to £300 and owners failing to stop people from smoking in their smoke free premises or vehicles may be fined up to £500. Persons found smoking in a smoke free place may be fined up to £300.
The other key change to the law is that no-one under the age of 18 will be allowed to purchase tobacco products. No person shall sell or provide anyone under 18 with any tobacco product and no-one under 18 will be allowed to smoke in a public place. Currently, the age is 16.
If anyone is found selling or supplying persons under the age of 18 with tobacco products, they may be fined up to £1000 and young people under 18 found smoking or in possession of tobacco in any public place, may be fined up to £500
.
Enforcement Officers, appointed by the Governor, will have the same power as Police Officers in terms of this new law. Therefore when suspecting that a person under the age of 18 is smoking or in possession of tobacco in a public place, Enforcement Officers will be able to seize the tobacco from the suspected person.
If a person obstructs an Enforcement Officer during their duty (for example, by providing false or misleading information), they are committing an offence and could be fined up to £500.
The ‘fixed penalty’ system mentioned in earlier press releases will not be brought into use until sometime in 2013.
SHG
30 August 2012
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