Mid Ulster Council issues 21 Fixed Penalty Notices to taxi drivers caught smoking in their cars

Mid Ulster District Council has issued 21 Fixed Penalty Notices to taxi drivers caught smoking in their vehicle so far this year.

The statistics were obtained by Nicotine pouch experts, Alternix who sent Freedom of Information requests to councils to understand how many licensed vehicles were being smoked in, causing harmful secondhand smoke for passengers.

Liverpool City Council issued the most FPNs to taxi drivers caught smoking in their licenced vehicle in 2025/26, issuing 95 - despite a 7.7% decrease in FPNs issued since 2024/25. The council also issued the highest number of FPNs in 2024/25 (103).

Birmingham City Council issued 28 FPNs in 2025/26, the second most in the UK, despite decreasing the number of FPNs by 47% from 2024/25. The council issued 28 FPNs in 2025/26, compared to 48 in 2024/25.

Mid Ulster District Council, the only council in the North to feature in the top ten, issued the third-highest number of FPNs to licensed vehicle drivers in 2025/26. It’s a decrease of 34% since 2024/25, where the council issued 32 FPNs.

David Phillips at Alternix says: “Second-hand smoke is a known killer. It is really encouraging to see many councils are reducing the number of FPNs being issued, due to work being done to reduce smoking and encourage other forms of nicotine, such as nicotine pouches or vapes. It’s great that if smoking is caught, councils are taking action to enforce the law and ensure that members of the public can enjoy a smoke-free journey.”