BELFAST CIYT COUNCILS PRESS RELEASE

Business owners have been urged to put the health of their workers at the top of their agenda and implement voluntary smoking bans.

The call was issued today (Tuesday February 28) by Belfast City Council, as it launched the second year of its ‘Kick The Habit’ campaign, in advance of next week’s National No Smoking Day.

“Research shows that around 70 per cent of smokers want to kick their habit and No Smoking Day is the perfect opportunity to take that first step toward a smokefree life by kicking the habit,” said the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Wallace Browne, launching the initiative at the City Hall this morning.

“However, this year, No Smoking Day also offers employers the chance to kick the habit and make their working environment smokefree as well,” he added.

Last week, the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) urged employers not to wait until the introduction of smoking bans in enclosed public places and workplaces, but to act for themselves and safeguard the health of their workers.

“The ban comes into effect in Northern Ireland in just 13 months, and local councils will be charged with enforcing the legislation. Employers need to be giving the issue serious and urgent consideration – and even looking at using this year’s No Smoking Day to help both their workers and their premises to kick the habit,” said the Lord Mayor.

This year’s ‘Kick The Habit’ campaign is being backed by one of the most charismatic figures in local sport - kickboxing legend Billy Murray, who won four world titles in a remarkable career that spanned 25 years,

Murray, head coach of the Prokick Gym in east Belfast, and current world featherweight champion, Gary Hamilton, both have thrown their weight behind the campaign and today joined forces with the Lord Mayor and Miss United Kingdom, Lucy Evangelista, to together put the boot into smoking.

"The Prokick Gym has always been an anti-smoking zone and we are proud to be putting our full force behind the Council’s ‘Kick The Habit’ campaign,” said Murray.

“There are members in Prokick Gym who have asked me to help rebuild their lives because of suffering and illness through smoking. They come in at a low ebb, but soon boast the confidence of a champion because they have kicked the habit. Had Gary Hamilton or I ever smoked, we would not be world champions. Smoking will never help you achieve the best in any walk of life," he added.
National No Smoking Day is Wednesday March 8.

The second year of Belfast City Council’s three-year ‘Kick The Habit’ campaign will be officially launched at the City Hall at 10am today (Tuesday February 28) by the Lord Mayor of Belfast, Councillor Wallace Browne, with the support of four times world kickboxing champion, Billy Murray, current world featherweight champion, Gary Hamilton, and Miss United Kingdom, Lucy Evangelista.

For further information, please refer media enquiries to:
Mark Ashby, Media Relations Officer, Belfast City Council
Tel: (028) 9027 0641

TRUTH * DICIPLINE * RESPECT
Prokick HQ Tel. 028 9065 1074

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