Trade calls for "light touch" over smoke ban

Trade leaders called for "light touch" enforcement of the smoking ban by councils during a conference today.

Speaking to an audience of local authority officials, the BII's director of membership Steve Howe said enforcement officers should distinguish between venues that blatantly contravene the ban and those that try to uphold it.

He gave the example of a pub where one customer is found having a "sneaky cigarette" in the toilet.

We need a protocol where licensees can contact local authorities - rather than getting the anonymous phone call that someone has been smoking in the Dog and Duck on Friday night.​Bar Entertainment and Dance Association (BEDA) executive director Paul Smith.

"What we plea for is a light touch early on,"​ said Howe.

"I'm sure that's what you are planning anyway. Lets encourage a spirit of co-operation."​

Bar Entertainment and Dance Association (BEDA) executive director Paul Smith echoed this point when he told workshop delegates: "What we need to do is work in a protocol where licensees can contact local authorities when they are having non-compliance, rather than getting the anonymous phone call that someone has been smoking in the Dog and Duck on Friday night.​

"We need to have some kind of honest dialogue to manage that customer non-compliance."

Local authority officials expressed concern about the lack of clear definitions in the smoking ban guidelines.

One issue raised was whether a covered court yard would be classed as a substantially enclosed place.

Smith said: "There's still some understanding that needs to be reached on court yards."​

Earlier, health minister Caroline Flint urged councils to "engage with business" and "try to pre-empt any questions they may have".

She told the conference, hosted by local government bodies LGA and LACORS, that councils "shouldn't under-estimate" the amount of work involved in preparation for the ban, which will affect 3.7m business and 200,000 licensed outlets in England.

Flint said: "We can't take anything for granted.​

"There's lots more work to do to support businesses. It's achievable but it will be very hard work."