TWENTY seven local premises were given warnings after they were found not to be complying with the smoking ban during a spot check by Lisburn Council officials last weekend.
The ban, which came into force in April, requires all workplaces, places where the public has access and all work vehicles to be smoke free.
And last weekend officers from the City Council carried out a total of 75 visits throughout the Lisburn
area, focusing on hotels, pubs, clubs and restaurants.
The chairman of the Council's Environmental Services Committee, Alderman Paul Porter said: "As part of the weekend blitz, our Officers were checking to ensure that premises were remaining smoke free and that any smoking shelters provided for customers were in compliance with the required '50% rule'. Officers were also checking to ensure that the relevant signage was being displayed at the entrances to premises", he added.
Twelve premises were found not to have signage in place, while 15 premises had permitted smoking in enclosed spaces and a number of verbal and written warnings were issued as a result of the enforcement visits.
Officers from Lisburn, together with other councils across Northern Ireland, will continue to carry out monitoring work relating to the smoke free legislation, including routine visits.
For information relating to smoke free legislation ring the Environmental Health Service at Lisburn City Council on 9250 9250 or email ehealth@lisburn.gov.uk or report a breach of the legislation on 0845 603 2500.
