Smoking in enclosed places

Smoking and the law

The Health Act 2006 made it an offence for people to smoke within enclosed public places in order to protect the public from the harmful effects of second-hand smoke.

What is meant by smoking?
The law forbids smoking anything, including tobacco, such as:

• manufactured cigarettes
• hand-rolled cigarettes
• pipes and cigars
• herbal cigarettes
• water/shisha pipes
• hookah
  

This includes being in possession of lit tobacco or any other lit substance in a form in which it could be smoked.

Remember, you have a duty to ensure smoking does not take place in any enclosed public place or work place (even work vehicles).

As a premises owner you must not smoke in your enclosed premises, or allow others to do so, and you must display at least one “no smoking” sign. It is up to you where it is displayed and what it looks like.

You can be given a fixed penalty of up to £150 or be fined up to £1000 for not displaying signs.

For more details on what types of properties are acceptable for smoking in please see the Further info section.