BMA survey points to a divided smoking nation

by Ewan Turney

The British Medical Association (BMA) has warned that drinkers in the south will be more likely to find smoke-free pubs than those in the north under "unenforceable" Government plans to ban smoking in pubs that serve and prepare food.

The BMA's aptly titled "Booze, fags and food" survey of 29 areas found that nine of the 10 with most non-food pubs were in northern England or the Midlands. The BMA claims its survey undermines the Govern-ment's claim that only 10% to 30% of pubs do not currently serve prepared food.

At opposite ends of the spectrum were Leeds and the London borough of Bromley. In the northern city, 88% of pubs were found to be aimed at drinkers while in Bromley just 5% did not serve food.

"A number of councils have told us that the Government's proposals are unenforceable," said BMA head of science and ethics Dr Vivienne Nathanson.

"It's time the Labour Govern-ment showed leadership and ban-ned smoking in all enclosed public places. A waitress working in a smoky bar is exposed to levels of second-hand smoke that are six times greater than a doctor working in a smoke-free surgery."

Ian Foulkes, director of policy at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, added: "The north-south divide shows that the Government's plans will make health inequalities worse. Cities with the highest levels of unemployment and deprivation will offer the least protection from passive smoking."

However, Association of Licen-sed Multiple Retailers chief executive Nick Bish gave the survey little credence. "There are always people trying to make something out of the north-south divide," he said. "It will be up to businesses to make the right decision on smoking for their customers."

Federation of Licensed Victual-lers Associations chief executive Tony Payne added: "We believe every customer will have a choice of smoking and non-smoking facilities within easy reach.

"This is the result of a huge amount of hard work by the industry to move in tune with the public mood ­ which is for smoking restrictions, not smoking bans."