UK stops short of outright smoking ban in enclosed public places

Devolution has again tripped us up. This News article by Kaye McIntosh, should have clarified that it is England and Wales (not the whole of the United Kingdom) that have “stopped short of banning smoking in all enclosed public places” (BMJ 2005;330:1468, 25 Jun). In Scotland a ban on smoking in public places is scheduled to be introduced in 2006. Northern Ireland is planning to introduce a ban on smoking in public places, but is still undecided on whether the ban will be total or partial.