Publicans must focus on saving lives

THE plethora of tactical measures being considered by Ireland’s publicans with the expressed aim of frustrating the Government’s impending ban on smoking in bars, illustrates the degree to which vintners are out of step with popular opinion on this vexed issue.

Whatever publicans might say, the majority of people are in favour of the concept of smoke-free pubs, especially in view of the undeniable links between passive smoking and the scourge of cancer, which takes thousands of lives in this country every year.

Yet, opposition within the licensed trade to Health Minister Micheál Martin’s uncompromising legislation against smoking in the workplace is intensifying, judging by the turnout of 1,200 publicans at yesterday’s meeting of the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland.