By Jasmine Cardiff

It has been a decade since the smoking ban was implemented and figures from Public Health England show that 230,000 people have kicked the habit in the South West as a result.

In 2007, the enforcement of the law made it illegal for anyone to smoke in an enclosed public place or in the workplace and this has had myriad benefits for UK citizens.

The lawful instigation has resulted in a drop from 20.7 per cent smoking in the region to just 14.3 per cent.

Additionally, the South West now has the lowest smoking rate in England and one of the lowest hospital admissions on the grounds of smoking.

Instigating a ban on smoking in public areas such as restaurants and pubs has proven to be a good move. It’s unimaginable to envisage a person being permitted to smoke in enclosed public places seeing as we are now equipped with the knowledge of the detrimental effects not only of smoking itself but of passive smoking also.

Graphic warning labels and written warnings printed on cigarette boxes and the price hike seen by them are ongoing tactics used to see more of an increase in people quitting.

Although the ban partnered with these other implementations has encouraged many smokers to give up, there is always more that could be done.

Ironically only one in 10 hospitals enforce a smoking ban outside health service buildings, which begs the question of why?

More, if not all, health service buildings should be imposing this ban to further discourage people.

Of course, every human has their rights and so they cannot be forced, however just letting people know that there are others that can help may allow them to at least consider taking steps to ameliorate their health in this way