Advice for Business

How will businesses be affected?

The law requires enclosed public places, including workplaces, to be smoke-free. This means employers, staff, customers and visitors will not be allowed to smoke in the enclosed area of the business premises.

What will businesses need to do to comply with the no smoking law?

Employers, managers and those in control of no-smoking premises will need to display no-smoking notices and to take reasonable steps to ensure that staff, customers, members and visitors are aware of the new law and that they do not smoke in their premises. This should include the following minimum action:

• display of no-smoking notices (as specified in the regulations and guidance) so that they are clearly visible to all employees, customers and visitors while they are in the premises (free notices will be provided for businesses)
• developing and implementing a smoke-free policy
• removing all ashtrays from premises
• informing anyone smoking that he/she is committing an offence
• requesting that they extinguish their smoking material immediately or leave
• refusing service if a customer or member continues to smoke in public 

Will there be support for businesses?

Detailed guidance is available on the Welsh Assembly Government smoke-free website, at www.smokingbanwales.co.uk|.  This sets out the steps that employers, managers and those in control of premises should take to comply with the smoking law.

There was a mail-shot to businesses before the ban came into force. This included samples of the bilingual no smoking signs that need to be displayed in Wales. These are also available to download from the website or on request from the Welsh Assembly Government.