Comments from the trade on the success of the Smoking Charter
- John McNamara, chief executive of the British Institute of Innkeeping, (pictured) said: "This is really good news. It's a tribute to the hard work of all the pubs and other licensed premises that have worked to implement the Charter.
"Although there is still an education job to be done with the public, as well as with many of our members, we've come a hell of a long way."
Mark Hastings, spokesman for the British Beer & Pub Association, said: "It's disappointing that the Department of Health has taken a negative stance. The Charter is an enormous success, a tribute to the hard work and consistent drive that has been put behind it.
"There's still progress to made, but we've delivered high levels of signage telling people what to expect when they go into a pub, and perhaps more importantly we're ahead of our targets on no-smoking areas in pubs."
Clive Mansell, licensee of the Ship Inn near Winchester, said: "The fact that such a high percentage of pubs are already compliant with the Charter shows that the industry is responsible.
"It's a victory for common sense and customer choice, and long may it last."
Chris Maclean, licensee of the Plough & Harrow in Bridge, Canterbury, said pub owner Shepherd Neame has been working with its estate to roll out the Charter.
"It is clearly working. We have the 'smoking allowed throughout' signs and ensure the pub is well ventilated. This is an issue where the market will decide, and if customers want something different they have the choice of where to drink."
John Sands, executive chairman of Pubmaster, said: "Self-regulation is good news. We have supported the Charter from the start and have worked with our tenants to implement it.
"Ninety-eight per cent of our pubs are compliant with the Charter, prominently displaying their own policy on smoking."
Related articles:
Smoking ban put on the back-burner (29 May 2003)
New York law may change after smoking ban backlash (29 May 2003)
