Scottish trade positive of smoking ban victory

Trade representatives in Scotland are positive they can win a fight against a smoking ban after a constructive meeting with the Scottish Executive.

In talks with deputy health minister Tom McCabe, the Scottish Charter Group pushed alternatives to a complete ban including a smoking ban at the bar and increased ventilation.

There was a sense of urgency to the meeting because the trade has had to deal with increasing pressure from the government.

In April Scottish ministers came out in favour of a sweeping ban on smoking in restaurants and other public buildings, stopping short of a ban in pubs. This followed the efforts of MSP Stewart Maxwell whose member's bill proposed a complete smoking ban in areas serving food.

Paul Waterson, chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, was at the meeting and put the trade arguments across.

"Nobody at the Scottish Executive would commit but we got the main thrust of what we want over to them and we're feeling positive," he said.

"The trade up here is not in denial. We know there have to be changes but there is too much misinformation and erroneous claims getting out in the media.

"We know pubs will have to accommodate a change in attitudes towards smoking but the government now understands that we are doing what we can to address this."

Russell Durie, licensee of the Linn O'Dee in Rutherglen, Glasgow, is putting his faith in the work of the Charter Group and hopes the government will listen to the trade. He said: "A total ban will kill the trade stone dead, I'm completely against it.

"We're prepared to do what we can in my pub but we're small and there isn't a lot we can change. If everybody had to face a ban then there's nothing we could do about it but it would destroy my trade."

The meeting with the Scottish Executive follows comments from Stuart Ross, chief executive of Belhaven Group, that there needs to be more unity in the trade if it is to convince the government.

Scottish politicians think a ban is the only way to cut the annual 13,000 deaths and 33,500 hospital admissions believed to be caused by smoking.