Good Pub Guide author slams smoking charter

The success of the industry's charter on smoking could be damaged by comments made in the latest edition of the Good Pub Guide.

In the introduction to the 2003 edition of the guide, editor Alisdair Aird is critical of the charter, which aims to promote the use of signage with no-smoking areas and ventilation where possible.

He writes: "This year notices have cropped up in quite a few pubs, asserting that smoking is allowed throughout the premises.

"These notices have been produced and promoted by an outfit which gets funding from the Tobacco Manufacturers Association.

"This flies directly in the face of the main purpose of legislation to prohibit cigarette advertising, which is of course to stop the promotion of smoking itself."

The comments have angered both the industry's Charter Group and the Atmosphere Improves Results (AIR) initiative which seek to promote the charter, agreed with the trade and the Department of Health in 1998.

ALMR chief executive and Charter Group chairman Nick Bish said: "I suppose it's good that the signs are being noticed, but a shame that Mr Aird failed to notice the ones that say pubs are ventilated throughout or have non-smoking areas.

"Fortunately AIR's research shows that most customers' perception and understanding of the campaign is a lot higher than Mr Aird's appears to be."

AIR's independent consumer research, (click hereto access) found that only five per cent of customers thought the signs were unclear, and only seven per cent thought they were not a good idea.

But Mr Aird told thePublican.com that he believes the signs are an "insidious" attempt by the tobacco industry to present the idea that smoking is an acceptable practice at a time when public policy is moving against it. He said: "I know my readers well, and this is an issue that concerns them greatly. They are looking for somewhere they can eat and drink in a smoke-free environment." Michelle Baker of the AIR campaign said: "The Charter Group and hospitality industry have worked consistently to provide more no-smoking areas and quality ventilation since the charter was agreed with the Department of Health.

"These efforts were certainly not funded by the Tobacco Manufacturers Association and the industry should be congratulated on its efforts."