Publicans slam ‘Taliban health inspectors

GROUPS tasked with implementing the smoking ban in pubs were “zealots” and “liars”, pub owners said yesterday.

Vintners Federation of Ireland president Tadhg O'Sullivan directed his attack at the Health and Safety Authority (HSA), who are holding public meetings on the proposed ban this week.

He said the HSA had told deliberate lies and twisted science to claim that passive smoking known as environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) affected non-smokers.

"If you tell a big lie often enough, people will believe it. I think Micheál Martin and the Fianna Fáil party are being misled by these zealots. We are trying to educate people," he said.

Mr O'Sullivan also warned there was no way "Taliban health inspectors" would be able to stop people smoking in pubs.

The debate about ETS has been inflamed by a Californian study published in the British Medical Journal last month.

Its authors said claims that passive smoking may increase the risk of coronary heart disease by as much as 30% were "probably inaccurate".

This study was part-funded by the American tobacco industry.

The Vintners Federation said a federal court had criticised the Environmental Protection Agency for "knowingly, willfully and aggressively disseminating inaccurate" information about ETS.

But US tobacco giant Phillip Morris lost its case against the EPA on appeal.

The HSA said it was not the first time Mr O'Sullivan had challenged the evidence on ETS.

"Unless he can substantiate his accusations, I will have to consider my next move. I welcome debate but I want to ensure people are properly informed. It is undisputed internationally that ETS is carcinogenic," said chief executive Tom Beegan.

The Office of Tobacco Control's report on ETS was produced by independent experts who signed a disclaimer stating they had no connection to the tobacco industry or anti-tobacco groups.

The report found that ETS is carcinogenic and causes lung cancer, heart disease and respiratory problems in adults and children.

Phillip Morris states it believes the conclusions of public health officials concerning environmental tobacco smoke are "sufficient to warrant measures that regulate smoking in public places".

Publicans have expressed strong concern that they will have 50% less customers when the ban is implemented. But Mr Beegan said:

"There is no research to show that smoking bans affect business. Only 6% of the population are heavy smokers and the number of smokers has fallen from 31% in 1997 to 27% in 2002."