Leaked smoking ban report no cause for alarm

The trade has rubbished speculation that a ban on smoking in pubs could be a reality within six months.

According to a leaked report in The Independent on Sunday, local authorities could be given powers by the Department of Health (DOH) to implement regional bans. It was rumoured that Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Birmingham, Brighton and Bristol all plan to outlaw smoking in pubs, restaurants, shopping centres and other public spaces as soon as they can.

If true, the news would be a devastating blow to the pub trade. But trade leaders are confident it's not going to happen, particularly as they are currently in talks with the government to set targets for the next phase of self-regulation.

Nick Bish, chairman of the Charter Group on Smoking in Public Places, said meetings with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) had been positive and he didn't believe that local authorities would be able to undermine the work of the DCMS and the industry on smoking.

Mark Hastings, spokesman for the British Beer & Pub Association, also said it was unlikely that local authorities would have the upper hand. He said: "The government has made it quite clear that it wants to work with the industry and wants to follow the voluntary approach."

A DOH spokesman said: "There are no plans for a national ban but we have already said if local authorities want to impose a ban in their particular areas then that is a matter for them."

However, Action on Smoking and Health confirmed that some local authorities are considering the move. Research manager Amanda Sanford said: "This could be reality within six months and local authorities are keen to put these bans in place once they have the authority to do so. We support their decisions and would like to see a ban introduced on a national level."

If local authorities were to make use of their greater powers it could prove disastrous for the pub trade. Bill Sharp, chairman of the Guild of Master Victuallers and licensee of the King's Head in London Bridge, said: "This will be catastrophic for the trade. Local authorities are shooting themselves in the foot because pubs are a major source of income and I can see a hell of a lot going totally out of business if a smoking ban is implemented."