Smoking guidelines needed fast

Licensees need to make a stand over the lack of guidelines concerning the impending smoking ban, says a leading solicitor.

Speaking at the BII London annual general meeting last week James Anderson, a partner at solicitors Poppleston Allen, slammed the government for failing to act in the interest of licensees.

"The government is not interested in the industry at all," he said. "This law is all about health so ministers need to be put under a bit of pressure by those of you it is going to affect - push the government for guidelines," he said.

"It is typical of the government to introduce new legislation first and then throw in all the regulations and guidance afterwards so everyone has to comply to them late in the day," he said.

"When the ban comes in, smoking will not be allowed in an enclosed or substantially enclosed public space. But, as yet, no one knows exactly what constitutes a 'substantially enclosed space'."

Also speaking at the event Trond Rornes, director of Cardsafe, a card security company, warned licensees they face losing business as customers are becoming increasingly concerned about using their cards in pubs.

He said: "People don't want to leave their cards behind the bar these days. They are too worried about walkouts or ghosting. You will make more money if your customers are paying using cards instead of cash and so it is vital you protect your customers cards and make them feel secure leaving them behind the bar."Licensees need to make a stand over the lack of guidelines concerning the impending smoking ban, says a leading solicitor.

Speaking at the BII London annual general meeting last week James Anderson, a partner at solicitors Poppleston Allen, slammed the government for failing to act in the interest of licensees.

"The government is not interested in the industry at all," he said. "This law is all about health so ministers need to be put under a bit of pressure by those of you it is going to affect - push the government for guidelines," he said.

"It is typical of the government to introduce new legislation first and then throw in all the regulations and guidance afterwards so everyone has to comply to them late in the day," he said.

"When the ban comes in, smoking will not be allowed in an enclosed or substantially enclosed public space. But, as yet, no one knows exactly what constitutes a 'substantially enclosed space'."

Also speaking at the event Trond Rornes, director of Cardsafe, a card security company, warned licensees they face losing business as customers are becoming increasingly concerned about using their cards in pubs.

He said: "People don't want to leave their cards behind the bar these days. They are too worried about walkouts or ghosting. You will make more money if your customers are paying using cards instead of cash and so it is vital you protect your customers cards and make them feel secure leaving them behind the bar."