97 per cent of work premises inspected in the two weeks after 1 July were smoke-free following the no-smoking laws which came into effect last month, according to data by the Department of Health.

Enforcement officers visiting offices, restaurants, hotels and licensed premises found 97% were following regulations to prohibit smoking in enclosed premises with 79% displaying the correct signage.

Compliance in company cars was also high with levels at 98% and 84% respectively. Dawn Primarolo, minister for public health: 

“When we introduced the smoke-free law last month, we predicted that it would be largely self-enforcing based on experience elsewhere and the fact that three-quarters of the public supported the move,”

“These figures confirm that, just as happened previously in Ireland then Scotland. England saw very high levels of compliance in the first few days. All the signs are that businesses and the public have taken the new law in their stride.”