Smoking was banned in pubs and all enclosed public places in the UK starting from July 1, 2007. The ban was part of a broader smoking ban in England that came into force as a consequence of the Health Act 2006. Before this, Scotland had introduced the ban in March 2006, and Wales and Northern Ireland in April 2007. The pub chain Wetherspoons was a pioneer, introducing a complete indoor smoking ban in May 2006, before the national ban took effect. The ban made it illegal to smoke in all enclosed workplaces, including pubs, bars, and restaurants, marking a significant public health step to reduce exposure to second-hand smoke.