Northern Ireland targeted for smoking ban
Councils in Northern Ireland are the latest to be targeted by campaigners hoping for a ban on smoking in all public places, including pubs and bars.
Representatives of Macmillan Cancer Relief delivered letters to mayors across the province outlining the necessity of a ban as a way of reducing lung cancer rates.
The charity is calling for a smoking ban to be implemented in all council-owned public places and says it will be targeting pubs and clubs.
The charity has dismissed claims that ventilation works to reduce cancer-causing chemicals in the atmosphere and wants smoking banned in all pubs and clubs in the same way that it will be in the Republic from January 26.
Heather Monteverde, general manager of Macmillan in Northern Ireland, said: "People who work in pubs and clubs are 20 to 30 per cent more at risk of developing lung cancer and people are being put off going to pubs because of the smoke.
"When the assembly is up and running it will have the power to call an outright ban on smoking in pubs and clubs. There are people of all political parties who support a ban.
"This would have the effect of protecting non-smokers and hospitality industry workers from other people`s smoke."
The Northern Ireland Assembly is currently suspended and political parties are working on a compromise to get it up and running.
Licensees across the UK are fearful that a smoking ban will lead to a drop in trade and a loss of jobs.
The industry has been supporting the aims of the Charter Group, which promotes self-regulation on smoking through the use of signage, good ventilation and no-smoking areas where possible.
The Federation of the Retail Licensed Trade Northern Ireland supports the Charter on smoking in public places and is encouraging all pubs in Northern Ireland to sign up to it.
Nick Bish, chairman of the Charter Group, said: "We still believe that ventilation works and are looking to work with government.
"The agenda for Macmillan is to stop people smoking but they don't address the interests of consumers and the business interests of pubs, bars, restaurant and hotels."
Jas Mooney, managing director of Botanic Inns, the 12-strong Belfast-based pub chain, said: "We feel there should be set-aside areas especially in outlets that serve food.
"In the bars we feel that most of the outlets should have smoke-free and smoking areas.We think it should be a compromise and not a view imposed by the Irish government.
"This has implications for both job creation and holding jobs in our industry."
