A new guide to belaunched on Thursday, 6 April will show that more pubs are introducing smokefree areas.  Membership of the EasyBreathing Pubs Directory, which covers pubs in South Gloucestershire, Bristol,Bath and North East Somerset has dramatically grown from 100 to 140 pubs - arise of 40%- that now offer a smoke free area to their customers.

All three pubs in Pucklechurch Village inSouth Gloucestershire now offer a smoke free choice for their customers.  This may be a first for villages inBritain.  On Thursday 6 April 2000 at 12noon, the three Pucklechurch pub licensees will join South Gloucestershirecouncilors and health workers to receive their Easy Breathing membershipcertificates and launch the new Easy Breathing Pubs Directory. Two out of thethree pubs in Pucklechurch are new members of Easy Breathing.  Anna Wilkinson Licensee at the Rose andCrown in Pucklechurch and a new member commented, "The no smoking area hasrecently been refurbished and is very busy. It is always full on weekends."

Robert Todd, from the Star Inn who is also anew member said, "We built this extension to the pub a year and a half ago andlet the customers decide whether it should be no smoking.  They left us in no doubt that the preferencewas for it to be a non-smoking area and we were happy to oblige.  Mr Todd added a personal comment,  "As an asthmatic, having a no-smoking areawithin the pub is wonderful!"

The enthusiasm for offeringa smoke free choice is also shown by an existing Easy Breathing Pubs member,Helen Andrews from the Fleur de Lys in Pucklechurch. She explained, "Althoughmany smokers frequent the pub, on a Sunday lunch time there is a fight to getthe seats in the non-smoking area."

Chris Burton from Health Promotion ServiceAvon who set up the Easy Breathing Pubs project with the local councils said,"We think that Pucklechurch could be the first village in Britain to have all 3of its pubs offering a smoke-free choice. Each year more and more pubs areseeing for themselves that offering the choice of smoking or non smoking makes goodbusiness."

Burton added: "Pubs were always thought to bethe last bastion of the smoke filled room. Easy Breathing Pubs and similar projects across the country have shownthat many customers want a smoke-free choice and so it makes good business sensefor publicans to provide one.  Pubsoffer a choice of drinks and food, so it makes sense to offer a choice ofsmoking or non smoking area."

Clive Bates, Director of ASH, said: "Foreating, drinking and socialising these places are just so much better withoutthe dense fog and stench of cigarette smoke - no-one could seriously argueagainst this, especially as the pubs generally make money and their customerslike it.  It's only the fear of changethat's holding up a complete rethink of tobacco smoke in pubs and restaurants -and projects like this will show even diehards that it can be donesuccessfully."