DoH to provide free no-smoking signage
The Department of Health (DoH) has confirmed that pubs will be able to download the no-smoking signage needed to comply with the July smoking ban from its website for free.
A spokesman for the DoH said the Government was currently "finalising the details" but that the signs should be available soon.
Guidelines are expected to be available around Easter and will include signage.
She said licensees should register to receive access to them and added. Signage is being checked against the Technical Standards Directive and will be available mid-March.
"The DoH will make guidelines freely available that set out the finalised details of smokefree legislation once all regulations have been made.
"Guidelines are expected to be available around Easter and will include signage.
"Businesses are encouraged to register to receive guide-lines at www.smokefreeengland.co.uk/stayinformed or by calling the Smokefree England Information Line on freephone 0800 169 1697."
The news will be a relief to licensees who feared they might be forced to pay for correct signage to comply with smoke-ban regulations.
go Smoke-free now, urges greene king's david elliott
If your pub is ready, go smoke-free now - that's the message from Greene King Pub Partners boss David Elliott.
Writing in this week's MA, Elliott said: "Pubs that have plans in place or have
constructed a smoking facility should
consider going smoke-free now.
"Why wait until 1 July? Get the smokers used to it, freshen up the pub and help
customers see - whether they're smokers
or not - that a pub without smoke is a
better place to be. If your smokers are
accommodated, there is even a chance that they might feel happy."
Elliott pointed to Greene King's Percy Arms at Chilworth, nr Guildford, Surrey, which went smoke-free last year and
benefits from a decent smoking shelter.
He said: "A great smoking shelter
includes heating and lighting so that
smokers can nip out for a cigarette in
comfort, but enjoy a much fresher
atmosphere when they return indoors."
l My Shout, p6
"The winter months hasn't put the smoker off visiting this pub when its cold because they know they're valued just the same as the next person."
