Hong Kong protest over proposed blanket smoking ban
Fears that a blanket ban on smoking in pubs and restaurants could cause mayhem and severely damage the industry have been revived by news of protests in Hong Kong.
A proposal to ban smoking in all public places in the country has led thousands of restaurant workers to protest because they say it will create tension between staff and customers and could even stop some people from eating out.
The move mirrors similar protests in Canada and California in reaction to bans there.
The Hong Kong government is proposing to ban smoking in most indoor places, including bars and restaurants, but the trade says it is already suffering from a lack of visitors after the US terror attacks and many fear business will suffer more if a ban is brought in.
According to the Publican's Market Report 2001, 41 per cent of UK licensees think a complete ban on smoking in pubs here would lead to a similar drop in trade.
In this country, the Government has threatened tougher restrictions on smoking if pubs fail to self-regulate by introducing no-smoking areas and improved ventilation. The industry is getting the message and more than a third of the UK's pubs are now offering customers a no-smoking area according to the latest research.
Oliver Griffiths, of the Atmosphere Improves Results (AIR) initiative, said he was urging licensees who had not yet acted on the issue to act now.
But anti-smoking group Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) has warned that despite the trade's efforts "it's only a matter of time before a complete ban on smoking in public places is brought in".
"We're definitely moving in that direction," Amanda Sanford said. "And public surveys show overwhelming support for a ban on smoking in public places. Its worked in other countries like the US and Australia, but research shows that it needs to be done gradually."
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Pub trade fear over complete ban on smoking (30 July 2001)
