Welsh businesses encouraged to ‘Try It’

15 Jan 2007

Businesses across Wales are being encouraged to try out being smoke-free next month in preparation for the smoking ban, which comes into effect on April 2nd 2007.

The week commencing Sunday, February 4, has been designated as the official start of ‘Try It’, when businesses across Wales will be encouraged to ban smoking for a designated period – an hour, day, week, month or permanently - to give themselves an opportunity to focus on the preparations required and the implications of operating smoke-free premises, in advance of the legislative deadline.

February 4 coincides with the date of Wales’ first 2007 Six Nations Rugby international, which will be played at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff, against Ireland, a country which introduced its own smoking ban in March 2004.

Details of the Try It campaign, along with a registration section to receive a free Try It pack, containing an explanatory leaflet, coasters and other promotional materials, can be found on the website www.smokingbanwales.co.uk/tryit. Over 150,000 Welsh businesses received a direct mailing last November from the Welsh Assembly Government and a further mail-shot containing detailed information about the smoking ban regulations is due to be issued in February.

John Griffiths, Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services, said:
With the start of the smoking ban in enclosed public places in Wales rapidly approaching, we would like to encourage businesses to give going smoke-free a try in advance of the ban. Hopefully, having successfully taken the plunge, they, like many other Welsh businesses, including Morgans Hotel in Swansea, Trearddur Bay Hotel on Anglesey, The Bell at Skenfrith in Monmouthshire, Aberdovey Yacht and Golf Clubs and The Lemon Tree in Wrexham, will be ready to adopt a full smoking ban on their premises on April 2nd, if not before.