Pubs to pay the price for messy smokers out the front

PUBS which fail to stop cigarette butts amassing outside their premises will soon risk prosecution as part of an anti-litter drive.

The move follows a survey which found smokers’ debris accounted for half of all litter last year.

Smokers who throw cigarette butts on the ground will also be targeted and fined for breaking the law.

A Department of Environment survey shows cigarette butts and boxes accounted for 49% of all litter in 2005 — a 3% increase on 2004.

Dublin recorded a drop in the cigarette debris — from 64% of all litter in 2004 to just 43% last year — but county council areas posted an increase, from 47% to 54%.

The survey showed an increase in cigarette litter at gathering points outside bars and restaurants since the introduction of the smoking ban in March 2004.

“The onus is on such establishments, and under law they are required to keep the area in front of their premises litter-free,” said Environment Minister Batt O’Keefe, in light of the results.

“We will be indicating to the local authorities that their litter wardens should be far more active in prosecuting premises who fail to do this.

“We will be asking that more prosecutions take place against the owners, and also the people who are throwing butts on the ground.”

The survey — which measures the extent, causes and constituents of litter — showed 94% of local authority areas have a litter problem.

The survey recorded a drop in areas deemed “significantly polluted”, from 10.5% to 8.5%.

There was also a slight decrease in the areas considered “grossly polluted”, from 1.8% to 1.5%.

A third of areas are considered “moderately polluted”, while 45% are deemed “slightly polluted.

However, only 6% of Ireland is considered “unpolluted”.

Chewing gum was the second biggest culprit after cigarette debris, making up a third of all litter pollution.

The Green Party criticised the Government for failing to put a levy on chewing gum in light of the results.

“This was because of interference by big businesses,” said the Green Party’s Dan Boyle. “The Minister talked directly with the American Ambassador about the levy and decided not to go ahead with it.”

Other litter components included plastic bags and takeaway coffee cups.