Publican does about turn on smoking ban

THE owner of the bar who said he would have to call time on his business and close his doors as a result of the smoking ban yesterday admitted trade has been unaffected by the ban.

Glenn McLoughlin of the White House in Limerick was so concerned about the potential impact of the ban that he outlined his fears in an advertisement in a local newspaper four months before the ban was put in place.

It read: “With reference to the proposed blanket no smoking ban issued by the Government, we wish to state that without an immediate compromise by Minister Micheál Martin such as a smoking facility for our customers, this historical premises will be left with no option except to close the doors on January 1, 2004.”

On the first anniversary of the ban, Mr McLoughlin said his fears had not been realised.

“At that time, about 80% of our customers were smokers and I felt that if we lost 25% of that business, it would be the difference between remaining open or having to close,” he said.

“I know trade in many pubs is down. But for some reason we have escaped relatively unharmed. We have had no problem in implementing the new law and customers are very cooperative,” he added.

The White House, on O’Connell Street, is an integral part of Limerick’s colourful history and has traded on the same premises since it opened in 1812.

To facilitate smokers, the bar has created an outside heated area under a canopy.

“This works well. We have noticed that a lot of people who used to smoke in the bar have quit smoking altogether. The benefits are that the atmosphere inside the bar is much, much cleaner,” he said.

However, he said the ban on smoking has exposed customers to a hidden environmental nuisance.

“When the scent of smoke was removed, we found another unpleasant odour in the bar - flatulence. Particularly that form given off by people who drink stout,” Mr McLoughlin said.

To tackle the stinky stout emissions, he places scented candles around the bar and staff are armed with air freshener.