Carrickfergus Borough Council - Tobacco Control

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Tobacco Control

The Environmental Health Section is responsible for a range of legislation covering tobacco control issues including the sale and display of tobacco products and the smoke free legislation.

Tobacco Products Display Ban

From the 31st October 2012 the law will change to prevent the display of tobacco products in certain large shops, with all retailers of tobacco being affected from April 2015. After these dates retailers will not be able have tobacco products on sale in public view. The new law will also place controls on how prices are displayed. The new controls are being introduced as part of the new Tobacco Control Strategy for Northern Ireland and is one initiative among many being delivered to help to reduce smoking uptake by young people and to support adult smokers who want to quit.

Further information and detail on the effect of the new law is available in this guidance document produced by Dept of Health Social Services and Public Safety

Vending Machine Ban

From the 1st March 2012 it became illegal to sell tobacco products from vending machines in Northern Ireland. Businesses can use these vending machines to sell other types if they wish or can move them to locations that can only be accessed by staff. These measure was one of a number introduced to reduce the opportunities that under 18's have to purchase cigarettes illegally.

Further information on this change in the law is available in this guidance document

Tobacco Sales

The Environmental Health Section carried out a programme of work each year to ensure all tobacco retailers are away of their requirements not to sell tobacco products to those under 18. As part of this work test purchases of tobacco products may take place in retailers using a child whose is under 18 to check that retailers are complying with their responsibilities.

Going Smoke Free

Since 30th April 2007 all of Northern Ireland's workplaces and public buildings have been smoke free.

The Smoking (NI) Order 2006 affects most businesses in Northern Ireland including factories, offices, bars and restaurants as well as work vehicles and public transport.

The law also applies to enclosed public places such as community and church halls, sports centres, shopping centres and schools. The Environmental Health Section in Carrickfergus Borough Council is available to answer any smoke-free queries businesses may have.                                                                                                             

In the years since the new law was introduced there has been very high level of compliance across all types of workplaces and businesses. However there are still issues with smoking in both taxi's and work vehicles.
Alternatively more information can be downloaded from the website www.spacetobreathe.org.uk
 
A4 Sized 'Smoke Free' Poster
Sample Smoke Free Policy
Guidelines for Restaurants etc