ABC News
Ireland Smoking Ban a Success
Ireland's Year-Old Ban on Workplace Smoking a Success, Prime Minister Bertie Ahern Says
By SHAWN POGATCHNIK Associated Press Writer
The Associated Press
DUBLIN, Ireland Mar 24, 2005  Prime Minister Bertie Ahern on Thursday lauded Ireland's workplace smoking ban, a year-old in five days, as a world-leading measure that would benefit future generations.
Ireland on March 29, 2004, became the first country to ban smoking in all enclosed workplaces, including in the nation's 10,000-plus pubs.
The two major associations of pub owners warned that some members would face business ruin from lost trade, and many smokers defiantly vowed to flout the ban.
But the ban has proved extremely popular and widely observed in Ireland, where 70 percent of adults don't smoke. The government estimated 94 percent to 97 percent compliance a pattern backed by the threat of $3,900 maximum fines.
Some pubs have created heated outdoor terraces where drinkers can continue to puff away.
Ireland's move was modeled on similar measures already in place in New York City, California and scores of other U.S. states and cities. It was considered a particularly bold step in Europe, where smoking faces much more modest restrictions in most countries.
Ahern said he was pleased that the predictions of social conflict and business doom had failed to materialize.
"I'm only too aware that for a lot of people, it changed the way they did things for a long, long time. It was difficult for them, but they complied for the greater good," said Ahern.
So far, Norway is the only other European nation to impose a similarly restrictive ban. Italy in January launched severe restrictions on indoor smoking, but still permits smoking sections in restaurants and bars if they're fully enclosed and have modern ventilation.
On the Net:
http://www.ash.ie Action on Smoking and Health Ireland,
Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Tomorrow will be an historic day in the Republic of Ireland. It will be exactly one year since the initial introduction of the once controversial . The ban, introduced on March 29 2004, made Ireland the first country in world to completely ban smoking in all workplaces.

The idea was initially met with much skepticism by the Irish who traditionally had a worldwide image as a land of drinkers and smokers. However despite this early uncertainty, the ban has been a huge success. Cigarettes sales have fallen by as much as 60% in , with the country's biggest tobacco brand, , reporting an overall drop in sales of 7.5%.

The   announced earlier this month that over 7,000 had given up smoking in the past twelve months. A survey by the  showed 82% supported the ban. Anti-smoking lobby groups such as ASH had been calling for a ban for many years prior to the Government's initiative.

On 3 December 2003, New Zealand passed the  which lead it to become the second nation to impose a total ban. Its ban came into effect nine months after Ireland's, on 10 December 2004. In January of this year Italy also introduced a ban. Sweden intends to go smoke free in June of this year and in Scotland, the  hopes to have a ban in effect by early 2006.