Welsh accused of playing politics with smoke ban

The Welsh Assembly has been accused of playing a political game by implementing an early smoking ban - with the trade calling for a single date for England and Wales.

Welsh First Minister Rhodri Morgan today announced plans for the ban to start on 2 April - before the stub-out in England, which is due next summer, and earlier than expected for Wales.

It doesn't surprise me. I think they are trying to get into a race for their own kudos​Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers chief executive Nick Bish.

It means Welsh licensees have just six and a half months to prepare for the smoking ban.

Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers chief executive Nick Bish said: "It doesn't surprise me. I think they are trying to get into a race [with England to ban smoking] for their own kudos.​

"It's crucial that they make the decision on the basis of what needs to be done rather than pluck a date out of the air."

Single date​British Beer and Pub Association director of communications Mark Hastings called for the Welsh Assembly and the Department of Health, which will pick the start date for England, to decide on a single date for England and Wales.

"It would be nice if politicians tried to make our lives easier by picking one date to implement the smoking ban rather than playing a game to get the ban in before the other,"​ he added.

Tom Zsigo, licensee of the Moon and Sixpence in Tintern, feared smokers could leave his outlet for another pub 10 minutes walk away in Gloucestershire when the ban comes in.

Morgan said: "The risks of second-hand smoke have been known for some time. This is why the National Assembly voted in 2003 to seek powers to ban smoking in enclosed public places. This is now becoming a reality.​

Legislation​"If all the legislation goes through Assembly procedures as expected Wales will have a ban on smoking in all enclosed public places from 02 April 2007.

"This is a decision which has been supported by all political parties across the Assembly and has been strongly advocated by health spokespeople of all other parties."

Draft regulations for the ban are currently out to consultation and cover issues such as definitions of "enclosed"​, proposed exemptions, signage requirements and enforcement arrangements. The consultation ends in October.

What do you think? Are you a Welsh licensee? If so are you prepared? Or are you close to the border with England and worried about 'tobacco tourists' crossing the border to smoke with their beer. Should there be a single date for England and Wales?​ - Please indicate which story you are responding to.

Your Comments​Bill Gibson​ via email 19/09/2006"I watched SPOOKS last night...the story line was too real for my liking. The politicians are only intent on exerting their aurtority on the people of the nation. What we are reading here is nothing more that repeated lies from both the politicians and Medics. It is now time time to stand up and be counted, get behind Freedom to Choose. We are not only prepared to fight to have the Smoking Restrictions part of the Health Bill amended, we are offering a cost effective solution...much, much cheaper than Outdoor Shelters."

Liz Barber​ via email 19/09/2006'Why not bring in the ban on 1st April? The Scottish ban came in on Mothering Sunday so the intoduction of the Welsh ban on All fools day would be entirely appropriate.

As for so called 'tobacco tourists' - we'll be heading for Europe for our weekends out, and otherwise become ASDA absentees and Sainsburys stay at homes - you have been warned.

Robert Feal-Martinez​ via email 19/09/2006"This is blatant political sour grapes.

Most of the assembly know they will lose their seats over this ban so are instigating it before the elections in May.

What a cynical, small minded bunch of Welshman they are. Perhaps now the Welsh pubs and their customers will join Freedom to Choose.

If we win the Welsh Assembly will be forced to include the amendment of an Indoor Air Quality Standard.

Your politicians have been provided with the evidence that passive smoking is a carefully concocted lie by those who hate smokers.

Freedom to Choose now has the uptodate evidence on ventilation which will show that even if ETS was an issue it can be removed to create air 25'000 cleaner than the average outdoor air quality guidelines of the OHSA and the EPA.

Your politicians are lying to you. contact me on 01793 822997, we already have the support of the Swansea and Rhondda LVA's.

Yet again politicians are going to destroy lifes and livelihoods.

Do not let them.

I challenge the Welsh Assembly and it's members to sue me, prove to the world you are not lying.

I know you won't because in a court of law the truth will come out, as will happen with the Judicial Review."

Alastair Elliott​ via email 20/09/2006"Well I have to say it was thought that the Welsh Assembly would want to grab headlines to get a ban date ahead of the English, I feel very sorry for the Welsh Publicans who have been let down by their so called masters, it all shows us how much we cannot trust the majority of our MP's nowadays. Its certainly not too late, contact Robert F Martinez and join the fight our Welsh friends."

Stu Staples​ via email 20/09/2006"We run a pub in wales it does very well on food, but the wet is the stronger side. I have always said the quicker the non smoking ban comes in the better, we look forward to the challenge!! if you run a decent pub there should`nt be a problem??"

Michael Willis​ via email 20/09/2006"With reference to your article on the date for pubs to become non smoking. We decided to become a no smoking pub this year and we set the date to start the ban on ash wednesday as it sounded the perfect date to start our non smoking policy!

Our sales have increased since we implemented the policy but before we get "hit" by all the people who are against the ban let me add that we do feel that publicans should have freedom of choice."

Bill Gibson​ via email 26/09/2006"Michael...Thank you, we as a group have always applauded those who have made their own marketing decision. It has always been the case that we have congratulated those who have shown the power of their convictioons. What is unreasonable is those establishments who are in favour of no-smoking but need the power of a ban to implement their right.

All that is required is Ventilation, Air Filtration, an Indoor Air Quality Standard that must be met. Businesses then have the choice to match the standard or declare their venue non-smoking. A market balance would evolve and with good signage at venue entrances, patrons would then have the choice as to whether they enter or not.

In addition, valuable taxpayer revenue could then be diverted away from 'Smoking Poice' to the NHS Sector starved of money now shedding staff. A further spin-off would be that we could also save out planet from further distruction from outdoor propane heaters as the U.K. is set to glow in the dark.

But all this is far too simple for our politicians."