Advisory group slams litter moves
Government plans to force pubs to clear up cigarette butts dropped outside their premises have been slammed as unfair by an advisory group.
CSR Solutions, which advises companies on corporate responsibility, said the policy would impose yet another financial burden on small businesses in its response to the consultation document.
"With the ban on smoking in enclosed public places due to come into force on 1 July, many of these premises will already have their hands full in preventing smoking within their premises, let alone facing financial penalties if their customers drop their litter outside," said Charles Hamshaw-Thomas of CSR Solutions.
"There is only one group of people who should be expected to reduce cigarette litter - smokers themselves. Any other approach will let them justifiably assume that their litter is for someone else to clear up."
Hamshaw-Thomas be-lieves that an integrated approach combining education, sanctions and disposal resources would be a better way to encourage smokers to dispose of their litter.
"We need behavioural change among the smokers who currently toss their litter onto the street."
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