On 1 July 2007, virtually all enclosed public places and workplaces in England became smokefree.

Smoking in these places is now a thing of the past - and against the law.

Socialise and Work Smokefree

The new smokefree law has been introduced to protect everyone from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke.

Secondhand smoke contains around 4,000 different chemicals. It can increase your chance of developing lung cancer and heart disease and can also cause a variety of serious health conditions including respiratory disease and cot death in children. It's made up of both side stream smoke from the burning tip of the cigarette, and mainstream smoke exhaled by the smoker. Side stream smoke accounts for nearly 85 per cent of the smoke in a smoky environment and contains a much higher concentration of toxins, such as hydrogen cyanide, ammonia and carbon monoxide. For information and advice on the benefits of stopping smoking please see the NHS Go Smokefree web site.

People are not able to smoke in pubs, clubs, bars, cafes, shops, offices and factories. Where no-smoking signs are displayed it is against the law to smoke.

How the Law Will Affect You

Staff smoking rooms and indoor smoking areas are no longer allowed, so anyone who wants to smoke has to go outside. Public transport and most work vehicles are also smokefree.

To find out more visit the Smokefree England web site.

Stop Smoking - Go Smokefree

If you smoke, there has never been a better time to quit. The best way to protect your family and others from secondhand smoke is to stop smoking.

Go to our Stop Smoking - Go Smokefree page to find out about the wide range of help and support that is available.

Protect Yourself Now

There are additional ways to protect yourself and your family from secondhand smoke:

• make your car smokefree at all times
• help protect children by keeping their playing, sleeping and eating areas totally smokefree
• if you are a smoker, always smoke outdoors