Trade chief fears for Welsh pubs
A leading licensed trade chief has questioned the decision to introduce the Welsh smoking ban three months ahead of the English ban, saying he fears for pubs near the border.
Nick Bish, chief executive of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers, say Welsh pubs will be at a disadvantage - particularly those near the border - as smokers choose to spend their money in England.
One fears there was a political agenda and the Welsh Assembly wanted to score points ALMR chief Nick Bish.
Bish said: "The difference in dates has not been helpful to the Welsh publican.
"English pubs have at least had a chance to get their heads around it.
"April, May and June will not be too clever in Wales because there will be a level of migration.
It is hard to see why the ban is not coming in at the same time as in England. Three months' difference seems unnecessary.
"One fears there was a political agenda and the Welsh Assembly wanted to score points."
The Welsh ban is due to come into effect on Monday (April 2) ahead of the July 1 start of the English ban.
Bish said he expects some pubs to close as a result of the bans in both countries.
"It will be bad for some operators. That has been the experience in Ireland, New York, Scotland, Ireland, everywhere. Probably two or three per cent on a national level might have business failure.
"But business failure is 100 per cent for the people involved, as well as for the people who work there and the wider community.
"But politicians will forget these real personal tragedies and losses."
