Anti-smoking groups call on the pub trade to ban smoking

Anti-smoking groups are calling on the pub trade to ban smoking in all its pubs, following the results of a new survey.

The Mori Poll, which was carried out on behalf of Cancer Research UK, Marie Curie Cancer Care, QUIT, ASH and No Smoking Day, revealed that half of all British workers, including those in pubs, are concerned about the effect that passive smoking at work could have on their health. The charities are calling on the government to introduce an Approved Code of Practice which will effectively ban smoking in pubs.

Marsha Williams, spokeswoman for the UK anti-tobacco group Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), has called on the licensed trade to look at the issue of staff health. She said: "The new survey has made it clear that there are literally millions of people who are concerned that passive smoking can cause lung cancer.We acknowledge that in pubs it's not reasonably practical to ban smoking overnight but in the hospitality industry there is still more to be done."

But licensees fear that banning smoking in pubs could lead to a huge drop in trade and a loss of jobs. The Publican's Market Report 2002, a survey of 750 publicans, showed that on average licensees thought they would lose around 39 per cent of custom if smoking is banned.

Pub operators and licensees have been signing up to the industry's voluntary Smoking Charter which promotes self-regulation on smoking for the pub trade through the use of signage, good ventilation and no-smoking areas where possible.

Nick Bish, chairman of the industry's Charter Group, believes that if the industry meets its target then it will be in a strong position with the government over the future of smoking in pubs. He said: "Success will demonstrate that we can deliver on our promises, the future of smoking in pubs is in our hands and that's the way we want to keep it."