England Smoke Ban To Start 1 July

Smoking in enclosed public places will be banned in England from 1 July this year, the government has announced. The ban covers virtually all enclosed public places including offices, factories, pubs and bars, but not outdoors or in private homes.

It follows similar bans in the Irish Republic and Scotland - a ban in Wales starts on 2 April.

From 1 July pubs and restaurants will have to display prominent "no smoking" signs around their premises. British Beer and Pub Association boss, Rob Hayward, welcomed the announcement, saying it gave businesses "greater clarity" and would allow them to prepare their customers for the changes.

The Cabinet originally proposed prohibiting smoking only in pubs serving food, in line with Labour's election manifesto - but MPs eventually backed a total ban in enclosed public spaces in a free vote.

The health secretary is also launching a Smokefree England campaign, to advise England's 3.7m businesses to prepare for the ban.