Trade slams 'madness' of smoking proposals
Government contempt prompts dismay
by Ewan Turney
The Government has shown 'complete contempt' for the public in pushing ahead with its plan to ban smoking in pubs that prepare and serve food by the summer of 2007.
That is the view of JD Wetherspoon boss Tim Martin who, like many in the industry, cannot believe the Government has decided to stick with former health secretary John Reid's much maligned white paper proposals. In doing so it has ignored warnings aired in the consultation that 20% of England's pubs will take the regressive step of ditching food to become smoke-filled drinking dens. A further 6,000 could close permanently.
The trade has reacted with utter dismay after the Government failed to heed warnings that the ban would achieve neither of its stated goals of protecting staff and reducing the number of smokers. Instead, it is set to increase binge drinking, create health inequalities between rich and poor and drive thousands of community pubs out of business by exempting private members' clubs.
'It is the worst of all the deals they came up with,' said Adrian Clay of the Litten Tree in Blackpool. 'Some pubs will be forced to turn into tired, awful smoke dens that not even smokers will want to go to. I expect a downturn in trade of about 20% to 25%. It's going to shove some small establishments over the edge, but the suits don't care.'
British Beer and Pub Associa-tion chief executive Rob Hay- ward said: 'This is groundhog day. We are back to square one with a proposal that is unworkable and grossly unfair. How does this square with the Government's alcohol policy, which is supposedly trying to encourage more food in pubs?'
St Austell managing director James Staughton said exempting members' clubs was 'non- sensical' and 'politically moti- vated'. He said: 'It will put com- munity pubs at such a disad- vantage that many could be driven out of business.'
The Government has given itself just 18 months to sort out vital details missing from the bill such as what is prepared food and whether smoking pubs will have to have separate smoking rooms and enforce implementation. 'I am absolutely horrified about the timescale,' said Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers chief executive Nick Bish. 'It is madness.'
However, JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin remains confident the proposal will never see the light of day. 'The public simply won't put up with such ridiculous suggestions. The proposals only reflect the egos of different members of the Cabinet and show complete contempt for the public.'
l Background - p2-3
l MA opinion - p18Smoking ban headlines
l Smoking to be banned in all pubs that prepare and serve food by summer 2007
l £200 fines for licensees allowing illegal smoking
l £50 fine for individuals smoking in non-smoking areas
l Private members' clubs exempt from ban
l Further consultation on whether non-food pubs can have smoking rooms
l Full review of policy due after three years
