Concerns are growing that plans to ban smoking in pubs could be added to the new Licensing Bill.
Labour MP Gareth Thomas, who is pushing through a new bill to ban smoking in restaurants and venues serving food, is rumoured to be proposing to add an amendment to the Licensing Bill.
This has sent shock waves through the pub industry, which has been hoping that a lack of Parliamentary time would halt the passing of the bill. Licensees fear that a ban on smoking would have a devastating impact on the trade forcing many of them out of business.
Nick Bish, of the industry's Charter Group, which is promoting self-regulation through the use of signage and ventilation, said: "The proposals are ill thought out and to distinguish between a pub and restaurant needs more thought.
"We believe that the Charter is the right way forward and that evolution not legislation is the answer.
"The bill is meant to be about reform of licensing and I don't think special interest groups should try and piggy back their interests on the back of licensing reform."
Meanwhile, the controversial New York smoking ban is now faced with legal action by bar owners.
Scott Wexler, executive director of the Empire State Restaurant and Tavern Association, is waiting for official notification from his board to initiate a lawsuit against the new smoking laws.
His move follows the death of a door supervisor at a New York bar who was stabbed earlier this month when he tried to enforce the US city's smoking ban.
Related articles:
MP bids to ban smoking in venues that sell food (17 April 2003)