Smoke-free Belfast
Belfast is a smoke-free city. This means it is against the law to smoke in most enclosed workplaces and public places.
This includes:
- places of work, such as offices, factories, bars, restaurants, cafes and hotels
- schools
- hospitals
- places used by members of the public, such as shopping centres, church and community halls and health centres
- most vehicles used for work purposes and vehicles used to carry members of the public, such as cars, lorries, vans, buses, taxis, trains and minibuses.
The Smoking (Northern Ireland) Order 2006 is enforced by officers from our Environmental Health Service.
Our officers visit premises throughout Belfast to give advice and assistance to businesses and, where necessary, to take legal action against offenders.
Penalties for not complying with smoke-free law
If no smoking signs are not displayed, business owners could receive a fixed penalty fine of £200.They could also be prosecuted and face a maximum fine of £1,000.
Failing to prevent people smoking in smoke-free places and vehicles may lead to a maximum fine, on conviction, of £2,500.
Smoking in a smoke-free place may lead to a £50 fixed penalty fine or a maximum fine, on conviction, of £1,000.
