Welsh minister starts smoke-free tour
Welsh Assembly health minister Dr. Brian Gibbons has begun a tour of smoke-free businesses in Wales with a pit stop at a Denbighshire café.
Dr Gibbons will be traveling the country visiting smoke-free pubs, clubs and restaurants "to find out about the practicalities of running a smoke-free business."
This morning it was the turn of the St Asaph Café in St Asaph, which has chosen to go smoke-free before the official ban on smoking in public places comes into force on April 2, 2007.
Dr Gibbons said: "The health dangers of second hand smoke are well documented and claim the lives of 400 Welsh people each year. The potential damage to non-smokers from second hand smoke is the main rationale for the forthcoming ban on smoking in enclosed public places."
Last month, more than 150,000 businesses and organisations throughout Wales were mailed with information about the smoking ban.
Linda Walker took over the St Asaph Café back in 2004, and it was already a smoke-free café then.
She decided to stick to this policy, and in her opinion it has only been good for business.
She said: "The regulars wanted to see it stay a smoke-free café, so there was never any question really. Our ceilings are quite low, and the cafe's open plan, so it wouldn't be fair on non-smokers. Now when I go to other cafés where smoking's allowed, I find the smell really strong and it puts me off my food.
"Occasionally new customers come in and ask if they can have an ashtray, but I tell them they have to use the benches we've got outside if they want to smoke. No-one ever complains, it's just not an issue."
