Welsh favour summer 2007 for smoke-ban

Wales' top politician Rhodri Morgan has suggested that next summer might be the best time to ban smoking at Welsh pubs.

Morgan, the Welsh First Minister, believes it may be "more practical" to ban smoking during the warm summer months, in line with the ban in England.

This is despite calls last week from opposition Assembly Members for the ban to come in before Welsh Assembly elections on 3 May 2007.

When pressed on the timing of the smoking ban during a debate in the Welsh Assembly, Morgan said: "It would be nice if it could be done before this Assembly reaches the end of the road in early April (when election campaigning starts).​

"But we do not want to think about just putting up a mark and saying, 'we achieved that during the life of the Assembly,' if it is more practical to achieve it a few months later when the weather is finer."

Philip Lay, retail director for Cardiff-based brewer and operator SA Brain, said: "The more time we have to prepare and plan, the smoother the transition will be."​

But he added: "I think the most sensible thing to do for Wales is to mirror England.​

"I can't see the point in having different timings because it will only confuse operators, councils and customers. The more consistency we have, the better."The more time we have to prepare and plan, the smoother the transition will be.​Philip Lay, retail director, SA Brain

But Ian Parri, licensee of the Tafarn Y Plu in Llanystumdwy, who favours the ban and has already made two rooms in his pub smoke-free, said: "For me, the sooner the ban comes the better."​

The Welsh Assembly has voted for a total smoking ban but it cannot take action until the Health Bill is given Royal Assent in Westminster, which is expected in June or July. After this, the Welsh Assembly will consult on the details of the ban, including the start date.

The British Medical Association is offering free window stickers to smoke-free pubs in Wales to advertise the stub out.

To get a sticker, with the strapline "Doctors support health", call John Jenkins on 02920 474646 or email wwraxvaf@ozn.bet.hx​. The offer is part of the BMA's "Why Wait?" campaign to encourage venues to stub out before the ban.

To comment on this or any other story email us by clicking this link​

Robert Feal-Martinez​, 12/05/2006Amazing so the head of the assembly would like to see this in by April next year. I wonder why. Perhaps it could just be that they all know they will be voted out.

Having only today spoken to the colleagues in Wales they are still up for a fight. I, for one, will be suggesting they engage in the same anti Labor campaigning that happened in Inverness which worked.

This ban is not wanted in Wales any more than in England, Scotland or Ireland, and I find it amazing that two recent polls by both Populus and Cancer Research UK both showing the vast majority, 69% and 61.3% wanted choice has been ignored by the media. The Populus poll asked 10,000 people and the Cancer Research asked over 2000. When are we going to see the truth being portrayed rather than 'scared reporting'?

Donal McCarthy​, 12/05/2006The British Medical Association is offering free window stickers to smoke-free pubs in Wales to advertise the stub out"

If the BMA is so hell-bent on entering politics, then it should change its status and ask for people's votes.

E.B. Cant​, 12/05/2006With regards to Ian Parri`s coments, Ian, if you are for the ban, then why wait for it to be implemented, why don`t you put your whole pub up as a no smoking pub instead of two room?

You confuse me, this fight is against freedom of choice, which is being taken away. Please explain why you haven`t stopped smoking alltogether. E.b.cant

Alan Thompson​, 12/05/2006Robert Feal Martinez gleefully quotes the Cancer Research poll which seems to indicate support for his groups campaign to stop the ban.

He has gone on and on in postings about this issue about how the medical and scientific community are telling lies about the scientific basis for smoking restrictions and how the real truth can be found at the big debate site.

If you go to the big debate site you'll see how these truth seeking folks encouraged people to vote to influence this poll, and passed on tips on how to overcome voting restrictions that stop multiple voting.

The anti ban brigade need to drop the 'holier than thou' attitude, because they most certainly aren't.

Robert Feal-Martinez​, 15/05/2006The Bigdebate, is the vehicle used as a ready made portal comprising originally of mainly Licensees, for Freedom to Choose to get their message across. It has grown in size by over 200% since 14/2. We are aware that members of the anti smoking lobby have registered using in the main false names and contact emails. In deed the same thing occured on The Publican site and on this one. In fairness to MA they have a policy of verifying email addresses and have deleted people who are not identifiable. Do I take it you are one of those people Alan. I note you condemm what some are allegedly doing in multi voting. Isn't it ironic that only a week or so ago, Freedoms online poll was criticised for the same thing with anti smokers doing the same 'to prove a point'. Having said that Alan, what is worse, pulling a poll which didn't go your way and producing fallacious results later to meet your requirements or showing how easy it is for ASH, Cancer Research UK etal to rig their polls. As for the science, the conclusions produced by ASH, HMG, SCOTH etc are so fallacious that even the Internationally renowned pro ban anti smoking scientist Dr Michael Siegal is highly critical of the current lies being told. I have no fear of accusing these organisations of deliberately lying. You see slander and libel are only appropriate if the staements made by me are untrue. If they are feel free to prompt your ant-smoking friends to sue me. But I guess as the issue would have to be aired in open court for the world to hear, that won't happen will it. However feel free to criticise the messenger and I'll keep promoting the message that ETS/Passive Smoke is virtually harmless.

Donal McCarthy​, 15/05/2006Alan Thompson says "Robert Feal Martinez..... has gone on and on...about how the medical and scientific community are telling lies about the scientific basis for smoking restrictions......."​

And suppose, Mr Thompson, he is right? What then. Are you happy to see 15m people excluded? Are you happy to see them excluded on the basis of trumped up charges?

Are you so awestruck by your "medical and scientific community" that you are incapable of allowing for the possibilty that their agenda may be dictating their "science" ? Have you tested the possibility for yourself by studying the myriad of available information?

Your response suggests you have not, favouring deference to independence of thought. If the scientific community [or anyone else] can provide absolute incontrovertible proof, that puts the matter beyond all or any reasonable doubt, then it shoud produce that. If not, it should say that too. Bad laws based on either half-truths or downright lies should have no place in this or any other democracy.

Additionally, I commend the Big Debate people for exposing transparently bogus, agenda-driven "polls". They are doing every person in this country a big service.