Alderney pubs prepare to go smoke free

One of the last places in the UK where customers could still have a cigarette in pubs is preparing to go smoke free.

Unlike the rest of the country, for the last three years the 10 pubs on Alderney, in the Channel Islands, have not been impacted by the ban.

But the island's mini-government, or 'State' as it is known, has voted to bring in the legislation which takes force from Tuesday, June 1.

And the decision was only just passed after the vote was split five for and five against, but the chairman used his powers to decide and opted to bring in the ban.

Mark Crowther is chief executive of the Liberation Group, which has 66 pubs in the Channel Islands including the Marais Hall and the Coronation on Alderney.

He said: "We have been dusting down the folders from 2007 and working on providing smoking solutions at the pubs in preparation for June 1.

"Jersey and Guernsey actually went smoke free before the rest of the UK, so Alderney is actually a bit of a quirk."

Pete Hein, who has been the licensee at the Marais Hall for 20 years, said the decision could hurt the 10 pubs on the island, which only has a population of 2,500.

"We will see how it goes for us but we do think it is a bit of a shame.

"We did find people would come over here and enjoy the fact that you could still have a beer and a cigarette in the pub."

The law comes into effect in Alderney at 4am on June 1. No-smoking legislation has yet to come into effect on the Channel Island of Sark, although voluntary agreements to prevent smoking in enclosed public spaces are already in place.

Smoke free legislation was introduced in the rest of the UK in July 2007.