Passive smoking claim provokes fresh calls for ban

Passive smoking is causing 165 deaths a year among barstaff, claim health experts.

The research carried out by an American campaigner has resulted in fresh calls for smoking bans in pubs.

Both the TUC and the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health (CIEH) renewed their calls for a legally-binding code of practice on workplace smoking.

Researcher James Repace based his estimate following analysis of UK deaths from passive smoking which totals 1,200 a year.

Mr Repace collated evidence from several past studies to work out the risk of passive smoking to specific groups of workers.

He found that of 226 deaths per year from second-hand smoke among all pub workers, 165 of those would be non-smokers.

The TUC and CIEH said the government should move to implement the legally-binding code of practice on workplace smoking proposed two years ago by the Health & Safety Commission.

CIEH president Brian Hanna said: "Relying on weak voluntary arrangements will simply not have the desired effect."

Brendan Barber, TUC general secretary elect, said: "Ministers should stop defending the fug-filled snugs of Britain's pubs, which are proving fatal for barstaff and putting off possible customers."

Oliver Griffiths, spokesman for Atmosphere Improves Results (AIR), which wants to reduce the likelihood of regulation on smoking through the industry's Smoking Charter, said Mr Barber's comments about smoky pubs did not reflect the reality.

"There is a real momentum for change, with hundreds of pub companies involved in the process," he said.

The voluntary Charter, agreed with the government, set the target of 50 per cent in the industry.

"We're confident the trade will achieve this," said Mr Griffiths.

Pub operators and licensees have been signing up to the Charter, which promotes self-regulation through the use of signage, good ventilation and, where possible, no smoking areas.