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Pubs

Some publicans are concerned at what will happen if they cannot stop someone smoking in their pub. Experience from other countries where similar laws have been implemented has shown high levels of compliance. We expect a similar response in England.

Private clubs, e.g. rugby clubs, snooker clubs, golf clubs, working men's clubs

Premises which are being used by and for the purposes of a club or other unincorporated association, and which are wholly or substantially enclosed, are affected by the new law. Members and staff of private clubs deserve the same protection from the health effects of secondhand smoke as much as anyone else.

Will this mean the death of the British pub?

There is considerable international evidence from countries that have introduced legislation for smoke-free public places and workplaces that the impact on the hospitality industry is not detrimental. Analysis and experience shows that going smoke-free can actually be beneficial to the hospitality industry.

Almost 70% of the population of Knowsley do not smoke and 75% of England’s population are also non-smokers, and this represents a very large potential market. There are examples from around the country of pubs that have already made a profit from the introduction of a no-smoking policy; The White Horse in Woolton Village, The Ring O’ Bells in West Kirkby and the Welkin in Liverpool City Centre are 3 local examples. Many more are available from the licensed trade magazine websites.

Many licensees are seeing this as a new opportunity to attract new customers by expanding their menus and food sales capability, introducing big screens to sell the “atmosphere” of the big game, or expanding their outside areas to accommodate a more family oriented customer base.

There is much evidence about the benefits to hospitality of smoke-free legislation, after the first year of being smoke-free, New York City saw that:

• Business tax receipts in restaurants and bars go up by 8.7 per cent
• Employment in restaurants and bars has increased by 10,600 jobs
• New Yorkers overwhelmingly supported the law
• Tests showed that the air quality in bars and restaurants improved dramatically

There is also comparable evidence of the benefits of smoke-free legislation for the hospitality industries in other countries including Ireland (OTC One Year On report), and similar evidence is emerging in Scotland since their smoke-free legislation was implemented in March this year.

Importantly, smoke-free legislation will be good for the health of hospitality workers and patrons.

Won’t this fill the streets with cigarette butts?

There is a huge problem with cigarette litter in the UK already. For more information on the ENCAMS campaign to reduce cigarette litter please click on the link below:

http://www.encams.org/ (Opens in new window)

Hotels, Bed and Breakfast

Hotels, boarding houses, guest houses, bed and breakfasts, inns and hostels which have two or more bedrooms set apart for the sleeping accommodation of guests are covered by the new law. However, as a proprietor you will be permitted to designate one or more bedrooms where the occupants can smoke.

The designated room should have a ventilation system which does not ventilate into any other part of the no- smoking premises and should be clearly marked as a room in which smoking is permitted. You are not, however, required to designate any rooms for smokers, if you do not wish to do so. Communal areas of your hotel will be required to be smoke-free.

Am I going to be guaranteed a smoke-free hotel room? What is to stop the hotelier letting the room as smoking one day and smoke-free the next?

While smoke-free legislation will not guarantee that people will get a smoke- free hotel room, the regulations require that hotel proprietors must designate in writing which rooms are not smoke-free and ensure that hotel rooms for smoking are clearly signed.