Vintners back smoking ban legal fight

VINTNERS in Galway have voted to fully support a fellow publican who is mounting a legal challenge to the smoking ban.

And in Waterford today, another group of publicans will announce a separate court action against the ban.

Following a special meeting last night, the Galway branch of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI) said it stood behind Ronan Lawless's attempt to challenge the constitutionality of the ban. Members of the branch voted unanimously to support the Fibber Magees publican, who led a brief rebellion against the ban after allowing smokers to light up in his bar.