Scare tactics ‘unjustified’ in smoke battle

FEARS thousands of hospitality workers would lose their jobs in the wake of the smoking ban were unjustified, an anti-smoking group claimed yesterday.

ASH Ireland said a new survey showed the public overwhelmingly accepted the ban and that pub and restaurant owners had used scaremongering tactics.

Dr Fenton Howell, spokesman for the lobby group, said creating a smoke-free environment was a significant step that needed significant action.