Trade petitions Govt to phase in smoking ban

by Ewan Turney

The trade has warned the Government that its plan to ban smoking by 2008 in all pubs that serve food will not achieve either of its manifesto goals of protecting staff or reducing smoking.

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR), and the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) have told the Government that the best way forward is to steadily increase smoke-free space in pubs. Both bodies support a policy to have no smoking at the bar and in all back of house areas by the end of 2007, and for the majority of floor space to be smoke free by summer 2010.

The ALMR is also seeking a total exemption for small businesses with a turnover of less than £2,500 a week.

Leaders urged the Govern-ment to consider the 'impartial Office of National Statistics survey released in July, that showed two-thirds of people still oppose a total ban.

Britain's largest managed chain, Spirit Group, warned that an immediate total ban would lead to 5,000 pubs closing and cost 75,000 jobs.

Spirit Group pubs that have been operating smoke free trials since autumn 2004 have seen a significant decline in sales.

Drinks sales at the Grange in Chelmsford declined by 15.4% in the first four months and JD Wetherspoon announced this week that it would be reviewing its smoke free policy after sales fell by 7% in its first 36 outlets to ban smoking.

A Spirit spokesman said: 'We estimate the cost (of a total ban) to Spirit at just under £20m in the first year alone.