Pubs consider dropping food because of smoking ban

Six out of 10 food pubs are considering dropping their food offer following last week's announcement of a smoking ban.

Shock figures, revealed in a poll of more than 300 licensees on thePublican.com, suggest the government's attempt to restrict smoking to the estimated 20 per cent of pubs which don't currently serve food could be undermined.

Under plans revealed by the Department of Health last week, all pubs "preparing and serving food" will be forced to ban smoking from the end of 2008. But faced with the prospect of a ban, the majority of readers of The Publican are saying they would rather drop food than fags.

Marjorie Suggett, licensee of Annie's Bar in Middlesbrough, said there was little doubt over what action she would be taking.

"We currently serve bar snacks, toasties and sandwiches - but we will definitely be dropping this if it means people can smoke," she said. "Why can't pubs be asked to provide segregated no smoking areas?"

Nick Bish, chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, said the results of The Publican poll demonstrated the challenges the White Paper on Public Health have presented to the industry.

"I would caution against pubs making premature decisions based on something that is four years away," he said.

"Licensees may well find in a year or so that the landscape has changed."

There have also been suggestions that pubs could turn themselves into two separate establishments in a bid to get around the ban.