Pub smoking plans rejected

PUBLICANS’ proposals to allow smoking in half of a pub’s premises and to exempt up to 1,000 pubs with less than five employees from the smoking ban were dismissed out of hand by Health Minister Micheál Martin yesterday.

Seeking a compromise on the blanket ban, publicans also proposed there be no smoking at the bar. Gathering to seek what they described as customer choice and common sense, the Licensed Vintners’ Association and the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland said the ban could lead to an 8% drop in pub sales, a subsequent loss to the Exchequer of 69 million and up to 3,100 job losses. The figures were at variance with the Irish Hospitality Industry Alliance, which said up to 65,000 jobs would be lost if the blanket ban was introduced.

Research conducted by Behaviour and Attitudes on behalf of the publican bodies showed more than a half of pub customers would support a separate smoking area over a total ban.