Fury over smoking decision
The pub industry has reacted with fury to today's announcement of a partial smoking ban.
Under proposals detailed today in the White Paper on public health, smoking will be banned in all pubs preparing or serving food from 2008.
The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) said a smoking ban based on food seemed "designed to drive pubs back to the days when they were drinking dens".
The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) meanwhile, is warning that the ban will be divisive for community pubs. Community pubs will face the stark choice of tearing up their food menus or alienating regulars by banning smoking.
CAMRA is still pushing the Government to allow pubs where there are two or more entirely separate rooms to allow smoking in one, while other rooms where food is served are made smoke free.
Chief executive Mike Benner said: "While it's clear that smoke in pubs needs to be managed, these proposals threaten to split the pub trade, creating polished smoke-free eateries for the middle classes and smoking dens for everyone else.
"The problem is that committed smokers may well switch their custom to small community pubs which don't serve prepared hot food and the resulting fug may alienate other parts of the local community - no one enjoys sitting in a smoke-filled room. It's quite possible that small community pubs, which rely on beer sales rather than food sales, will tear up their menus to make sure their smoking regulars are not driven away.
"It is the small community local which is likely to bear the brunt of these proposals should they become law."
CAMRA wants the government to carry out a full-impact assessment on community pubs and ensure that support is in place to prevent closures.
Announcing the proposals today health secretary John Reid said: "It is clear we need to do more as a society to improve people's health. Having defeated many deadly infectious diseases, we now face the challenge of avoidable ill-health caused by poor diet, lack of exercise and smoking.
"This government's role is to help ensure society moves in the right direction - by providing clear information for individuals, working with industry to deliver real progress and where necessary taking decisive action to ensure healthy choices are available to all."
Related articles:
Smoking banned in most pubs (16 November 2004)
ALMR: pubs facing hard decision (16 November 2004)
