That leaves little time for some pubs, restaurants and hotels to get their houses in order if they wish to offer non-smoking eating sections as well as an area where customers can light up.
Premises which cannot meet the deadline despite months of warning, or do not have the money to make the necessary changes, are being advised to consider going straight for a voluntary total ban.
Health Minister Stuart Syvret said that support was now growing for an outright ban in all work places, which would include pubs and clubs.
He added that it would take at least 18 months to implement such a ban should it receive States approval, but that was his department’s clear goal.
Outlawing smoking in public eating places is to be given top priority after it was unanimously endorsed by the Council of Ministers during their meeting yesterday.
