Voluntary smoking ban for island

Sark's government can consider a full legal smoking ban in two years

A Channel Island government has voted to introduce moves which could see it becoming fully smoke-free.

Sark's Chief Pleas is to introduce a voluntary ban on smoking in all of its public buildings.

The Chief Pleas can consider making the ban a fully binding law in two years' time if it wants.

Conseiller Diane Baker from the medical committee said: "I think, on the whole, most of us don't want to smoke in public or be in a smoking atmosphere."

She added: "It was really a matter of starting the process of dotting the 'i's and crossing the 't's, and I hope we can do it on a voluntary basis and that we don't have to go into full legislation in two years' time."

Smoking is banned in all public buildings in Jersey, Guernsey and Herm, while Alderney's government is currently considering a ban.