Delay drags on over smoke ban regs

More government delays over the final details of the smoking ban have sparked frustration within the trade.

Just five months before the law outlawing smoking in public places kicks in, details of the signage pubs will have to display and the extent they will be fined for breaking the law are yet to be finalised.

A Department of Health spokeswoman told thepublican.com​ this week: "We hope to have signage regulations before Parliament well before May, but there is no official date as yet."

However, a draft version of the regulations on signs has been released on the government's Smokefree England website. It is also expected that pubs will face penalties of up to £2,500 for allowing people to smoke on their premises, while individual smokers will be hit with a £50 fine.

Part of the regulations were laid before Parliament last month, giving details of what will constitute an outside area when the ban commences on July 1.

Trade leaders welcomed the first part of regulations, but expressed concern over how local authorities would interpret the rules.

On the latest delay, Martyn Goulding, licensee at the Original Oak, Leeds, said: "It's very, very frustrating that these issues haven't been finalised when we are expected to have everything ready by July.

"I could easily see the start-date being put back because there are going to be so many problems for pubs."

Rob Hayward, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: "I have heard nothing more from the government since Christmas, but there are all sort of complications over European regulations, because they have to check issues like whether the signs are a barrier to trade."

For information on the ban visit: www.smokefreeengland.co.uk