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ASH Daily News
13 August 2003


HEADLINES
Finding freedom to fume in public
Unions warn pubs of action on smoking
Should British cities be able to ban smoking?
Ireland: pub garden boom in response to smoking ban

FULL TEXT


Finding freedom to fume in public

An interview with Richard Shepherd, manager of Langan's Brasserie, one of London's top restaurants, reveals his strong feelings on the topic of smoking. The restaurant's smoking policy amounts to allowing anyone to smoke anywhere. Asked what happens when customers ask for a no-smoking area, his response is to "find them a corner where I know people around them don't smoke". Justifying his policy, he says: "I've spent a fortune on extractor fans and air conditioning. Nobody has smoke hanging around them at the table. Somebody want to come in to the Brasserie and smoke that's fine. They don't want to come in because of smoke, it's my loss but that's fine also Remember what I said, freedom of choice."

Daily Mail, 13/8/03



Unions warn pubs of action on smoking


Pubs, nightclubs and casinos should brace themselves for a wave of lawsuits and a possible ban on smoking if they do not improve workplace conditions swiftly, trade unions and activists said yesterday.

The warning came after Michael Dunn, a casino worker, received about £50,000 in an out-of-court settlement with Napoleon's Casino in central London, after he claimed he had developed asthma due to passive smoking at work.

The GMB general union, which brought Mr Dunn's case, said it already had four more claims "in progress" and expected several more.

The case highlights the increasing pressure being placed on employers and the government to ensure smoke-free places of work.

Unison, the public services union that represents many workers in the leisure industry, said: "The next step is pubs and clubs rather than just an office environment. It's not just about customers there; the fact is it is somebody's workplace too."

Both the GMB and Unison are campaigning for employers to have credible non-smoking policies while setting aside space for smokers.

Ash, the anti-smoking group, said large companies had made good progress in implementing such policies but Mr Dunn's case would force attention on pubs and clubs.

Mr Dunn's case does not represent the first payout for passive smoking in the UK, but it is thought to be the first to occur in the leisure industry.

Veronica Bland and Beryl Roe won out-of-court settlements in 1993 and 1995 respectively from Stockport council for alleged smoking-induced illnesses.

Mike Ainsley, GMB's casino officer, said the union was starting a campaign to give employees in the hospitality sector smoke-free work areas.

Calls for a ban on smoking in public have come from the Greater London Assembly as well as Brighton council in recent weeks, but legislation is needed to enforce such a ban. Several countries have passed legislation recently including Norway and Ireland as well as US states and cities such as California and New York.

Bob Cotton, chief executive of the British Hospitality Association, said his group would not resist legislation. "What we want is a sensible and workable piece of legislation. What I don't want is a law that is unfair to people in the hospitality sector."

The Federation of Licensed Victuallers, which represents publicans, said that pubs had spent a lot of money on ventilation equipment.

"We are not expecting a lot of litigation," it said.

"The area where we would have concern is if the government tried to stop smoking in public places including public houses. That would put a lot of people out of work."

Financial Times, Aug 13, 2003





Should British cities be able to ban smoking, as New York has done?


Brighton plans to encourage the city's pubs, clubs and restaurants to ban smoking

TERRY BLAIR-STEVENS Brighton and Hove City NHS Primary Care Trust

Legislation is necessary to empower authorities to ban smoking in pubs, clubs and restaurants and impose fines, as they do in New York. But a lot can be done in the meantime. Where they have non-smoking areas, they should be extended. Where they don't, they should be introduced. Provided we can prove that trade is not affected, we hope to see smoking in our pubs and clubs become the exception, not the rule.

SIMON CLARK Director of Forest, the lobby group for smokers' rights

No. It's not difficult to accommodate smokers without inconveniencing non-smokers, so why give in to a vociferous minority? The hospitality industry is introducing more smoke-free areas and improving ventilation. Anyway, surely the authorities have better things to do than fine smokers, unless this is yet another revenue-raising ruse. Get a life.

AMANDA SANDFORD Research manager, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)

Yes, definitely. In the absence of national legislation, local authorities should be granted the power to ban smoking in places under their control. Smoke-free polices are not only good for health, they are good for business. Evidence shows that in countries where smoke-free laws have been introduced, trade has generally increased.

CATHERINE HANCOCK General manager, Yates's Wine Lodge, Brighton

The company is looking into the smoking issue. In Brighton, we have a non-smoking area. We are sticking to that at present, but things may change. The large majority of our customers smoke and we've never had any complaints about smoky atmospheres.

JULIE BURCHILL Writer and Brighton resident

Of course they shouldn't. It's ridiculous. Smokers should be able to ban city councils. I don't smoke, but all my friends do. Smokers may pollute the air, but 50 per cent of smokers don't go beating people up at closing time. Why not ban drinking? We should legalise more things than ban them.

The Independent, Aug 13, 2003



Ireland: pub garden boom in response to smoking ban

Smokers refusing to relinquish or extinguish their cigs while enjoying a pint in the pub could soon find themselves members of a new kind of café society. A growing number of publicans and restaurant and bar owners are considering installing or extending outdoor terraces and beer gardens to keep their smoking customers happy while abiding by tough new anti-smoking laws due to come into effect next year. The law will prohibit smoking in all indoor workplaces from 1 January. However, the regulations apply to enclosed workplaces only.

The number of applications for outdoor seating licences from Dublin City Council has risen by almost a third to 60, since Health Minister Micheal Martin announced plans for the smoking ban.

Irish Independent, 11/8/03





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