MP bids to ban smoking in venues that sell food
A Labour MP has won the right to introduce a bill to ban smoking in all public places that serve food.
Gareth Thomas, MP for Harrow West, gained support from 115 MPs to put forward a new bill to ban smoking in restaurants and venues serving food, including pubs, because of the dangers of passive smoking.
He says the measure is necessary to reduce 12,000 deaths from heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory problems caused by breathing second-hand smoke. This view is supported by an American passive smoking expert James Repace, who claimed earlier this month that 165 barstaff a year die of passive smoking.
The trade is hoping a lack of Parliamentary time could halt the passing of the bill as a ban on smoking in restaurants could have a massive impact on the pub industry.
Nick Bish, who heads the industry's Charter Group, said: "I would be concerned if it were to go through as we believe that the industry Charter will demonstrate that self-regulation is working.
"The bill has not been thought through - for instance, it needs to define what food is. Is it bar or restaurant food, or snacks over the counter? It will cause more problems than it solves if it were to go through in its present form."
Oliver Griffiths, spokesman for Atmosphere Improves Results, which promotes the Charter, said: "You can expect a lot more of these style of initiatives going through Parliament. There are a number of MPs who feel very strongly about it. The industry has to make its case for self-regulation to other MPs."
There has already been some opposition to the move within the House of Commons. MP for Basingstoke Andrew Hunter, who is also a member of Parliament's cigar and pipe smoking club, said: "No-one is compelled to smoke in any bar, restaurant or hotel - if they don't like the smoking policy, they needn't go there."
Licensees fear that an outright smoking ban 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. However, this bill could mark a move towards an outright smoking ban.
The bill is expected to have its second reading on July 11.
Britons favour restaurant ban
New research conducted by MORI will cause more concern for the pub trade. It revealed more than half of Britons back a smoking ban in restaurants - 23 per cent of them smokers. Only four per cent of people thought that there should be no restrictions on smoking in restaurants.
Fuller's is Charter compliant
Fuller's, the London-based brewer and pub retailer has announced that it is now 100 per cent compliant with the industry's voluntary Smoking Charter.
The charter promotes self-regulation on smoking for the pub trade through the use of signage, good ventilation and no-smoking areas where possible.
Fuller's retail director Simon Emeny said: "We are now signed up to the Charter in all our pubs, but we won't be stopping there. We have a commitment to our customers and where ventilation isn't great, or there is no smoke-free area, we will look to improve the situation in the future."
Related articles:
Passive smoking claim provokes fresh calls for ban (9 April 2003)
