Dublin publicans drop smoking ban challenge

PUBLICANS in Dublin have dropped their legal challenge to the Government's smoking ban, but pub owners outside the capital are still on a collision course with Health Minister Micheál Martin.

The Licensed Vintners Association (LVA), which represents 95% of Dublin publicans, is now encouraging its members to uphold the ban which comes into force on March 29.

No similar gesture of support has come from the 6,000-strong Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI).