All out smoking ban demands reach fever pitch

Demands from the anti-smoking lobby for the government to scrap its current plans and introduce an all-out smoking ban are reaching fever pitch.

As the September 5 deadline for the consultation looms, polls conducted by groups such as ASH (Action on Smoking and Health) and Cancer Research UK (CRUK) are claiming a significant level of public support for a complete ban.

But licensees and tobacco chiefs say the figures are distorted and what the public really wants is choice. According to a poll by CRUK and ASH, two out of three MPs want to see a complete ban on smoking in pubs.

But The Publican has learned that at least one MP appears confused as to exactly how the government's proposed ban will work.

Responding to a request from Jeff Mallinson of the Sparrow Hawk Hotel in Burnley, Lancashire, local MP Kitty Usher wrote: "It is my understanding that while the hotel serves food there can be no smoking but when the bar is open purely as entertainment then smoking may be permitted if hot food is not served."

The current proposals, however, would not allow licensees to pick and choose when the ban was enforced.

A spokesman for Ms Usher claimed she was aware of the details of the proposal and said the letter was only wrong in terms of "semantics".

The government is currently proposing to ban smoking in all public places, with exemptions for pubs that don't serve food and private members' clubs.

Licensees from across England and Wales have joined The Publican's own submission on the issue, which will be presented to the government as part of the consultation later this week.

You have one last chance to add your voice to our response to the smoking consultation - click here​.