ASH/ Press releases/ |
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| Press release 2 April 1998 | ASH |
Rail company vindicated over its smoking policy
ASH today welcomed the House of Lords ruling against Peter Boddington,the rail commuter who had challenged Connex South Central’s smoking policy.
ASH Director, Clive Bates said: "You’ve got to respect anybody prepared to goto court for what he believes in, but from the start we thought his arguments werecompletely off the rails. Train companies are perfectly within their rights to ban smokingif they think it makes good commercial sense."
"There has never been even the slightest indication that Boddington has a crediblecase - and he will undoubtedly lose if he tries to take it any further. The whole thinghas been used by the tobacco lobby to suggest there is great public concern about banningsmoking - but in fact, smoke-free public transport has wide public support," addedBates.
Note:
A Guardian-ICM poll in January 1998 found that 80% of the populationwere in favour of a ban on smoking on public transport and 73% supported smoking bans inthe workplace. (The Guardian 13/1/98)
ENDS
| Contact | Clive Bates, Director | (020) 7739 5902 |
| Amanda Sandford, Communications Director | (020) 7739 5902 |
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