Fuller's sends out smoke signals

Fuller's is gearing up for the smoking ban by a newsletter to customers in its pubs.

The campaign, designed to educate people about the precise details of the new laws, also reassures punters that they will still have somewhere to smoke at Fuller's pubs.

The leaflet, entitled Smoke Signals, will be distributed in all 365 managed and tenanted Fuller's pubs, across England in preparation for the ban on July 1.

Elton Mouna, retail marketing manager at Fuller's, explained that the campaign draws on research from Ireland, where the smoking ban has been in place for almost two years.

"We studied the effects in Ireland, and looked at what happened in the period running up to their ban," he said. "We discovered that not everyone actually believed it would happen, including some unions."

He added: "Smoke Free England is saying, "like it or not, it's coming", and Smoke Signals is trying to clear up the confusion over whether there will be exceptions for things like working men's clubs. We're saying, there are no exceptions."

Mouna said that Fuller's has been encouraged by the reaction of the Irish public to the ban, adding: "Beforehand, people thought it was the end of their world, but, almost without exception, people liked the smoking ban, including those who smoke. We found that even when Irish people visited England they still went outside to smoke.

"I think in England, the majority of people know that it's coming, but this will clear up any doubts they may have".