Bans threaten Oxford smoking
Christ Church JCR passed a motion prohibiting smoking in some areas of the college this week, as the City Council revealed it is contemplating a city-wide smoking ban in public places.
The College's JCR President Joanna Lee Morrison proposed the motion to the general meeting, which noted: "The JCR and the Undercroft [bar] are used by both smokers and non-smokers, and JCR members who choose not to smoke should not be exposed to other people's smoke in the public areas of Christ Church."
The JCR voted overwhelmingly to ban smoking in the JCR common room, but students were divided on whether to extend the ban to the college bar.
A proposal to ban smoking from directly around the bar area only passed by one vote.
Morrison stressed that as the Undercroft bar is owned by the college, the JCR motion was only advisory, and the ultimate decision lay with the college authorities.
"I'm still in discussion with the bar manager about implementation," she claimed.
Moreover, she denied the low turnout at the GM meant that any ban would have little legitimacy, though admitted surprise that so few people attended the meeting.
"The meeting was very well publicised and if people aren't willing to come and discuss the issue then they don't really have cause to complain," said Lee Morrison.
Morrison insisted reaction to the ban so far had been positive: "The fact that more people didn't turn up suggests to me that the ban had a lot of support."
She admitted there were concerns the ban could damage the bar financially but pointed out it could work the other way.
"It will be interesting to see whether more people actually end up coming to the bar and café because they don't have to breathe in other people's smoke."
Meanwhile, Oxford City Council has said it may hold a referendum on banning smoking in all public places.
An amended motion passed by the council stated the Executive had to consult the people of Oxford before enforcing any ban. The Council has not yet decided what form this consultation will take.
"It may well be a referendum, but no decision has been taken," a Council spokesman told The Oxford Student.
No date has been set for the consultation.
The motion was proposed by Councillor Craig Simmons, leader of the Green Party.
He admitted it would be almost impossible for the Council to put such a ban in place without passing a related bill through the national parliament.
Liverpool is currently undergoing a similar process with a ban not expected to be in place until the end of 2006.
Simmons said this motion had been proposed to deal with inconsistencies in government legislation, which will only ban smoking where hot food is being served.
The proposals currently being considered by Oxford Council would see smoking banned in all enclosed public places in the city limits.
College bars would not be affected by this ban, meaning that colleges that want to ban smoking will still have to pass a motion through their JCR.
The Oxford Student has also learnt that the Oxford Union's bar and other facilities would not be included in any ban as they are not fully open to the public.
3rd Feb 2005