Bish hits out over ASH's criticisms

Related tags Charter group Smoking Hotel Public house Smoking charter

The chairman of the Charter Group Nick Bish has hit back at claims by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) that the Smoking Charter has been an...

The chairman of the Charter Group Nick Bish has hit back at claims by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) that the Smoking Charter has been an "obvious failure".

This week Amanda Sandford, research manager for ASH, attacked the fact that independent research had found that only 43 per cent of pubs had an appropriate signage policy.

She said Mr Bish should not be surprised that the government has failed to show full support for the group's voluntary approach, given the poor results of the Charter.

Mr Bish believes ASH is ignoring the positive results of the Charter, which promotes self-regulation on smoking in pubs through good ventilation, the use of signage and no-smoking areas where possible.

He asked: "Why is it that ASH is so dismissive of what this industry has done? The single chink it can find is that 'only' 43 per cent of pubs visited could lay their hands on the written policy to produce to the researchers. So would Amanda Sandford immediately leave a new no-smoking pub if the staff couldn't find the document?"

The attack follows the launch of an industry-wide consultation by the Charter Group on smoking.

Questionnaires covering plans for the future, views on the Charter and provisions for staff have been sent to all pub groups in response to fears over a growing threat of a smoke ban.

The independent results of a survey into the progress of the Charter Group revealed that 63 per cent of publicans were Charter compliant. According to The Publican Market Report 2003, 83 per cent of publicans are now displaying Charter signs.

Mr Bish said: "The Charter Group still wants to work with government to drive good practice further and faster throughout the hospitality industry. Why can't ASH accept that we have many objectives in common?"

In response, Ms Sandford said: "By picking on the 43 per cent figure ASH is trying to show that the Charter Group is being disingenuous. It hasn't reached its targets, which were too weak in the first place."

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