Save Our Pubs & Clubs - Amend The Smoking Ban

I quite agree, Chris, and not just because I am a smoker! What is needed is choice and common sense.

The smoking ban is something I touched on on my own website back in March, when I said much the same (by the way, I don't make a habit of substantially copying articles from my website, but it saves trying to rewrite it and type it all up again):

The fact is ... the smoking ban has contributed to the slump in the Great British Pub’s fortunes. Indeed since the ban was introduced, the proportion of British men who smoke has increased, leading to a greater proportion of men being put off going down the local for a pint in bad weather. And no amount of tax- or price-cutting will solve this issue.

The only thing that will truly save our pubs is by bringing back that great freedom: choice. I am not suggesting that it would be right and proper to completely lift the smoking ban, just to allow special dispensation for a proportion of pubs. Smoking in the workplace (excluding pubs) should not be allowed to return.

My “plan”, though not perfect, is as follows: every pub should be allowed to apply for a smokers’ licence. Every pub in posession of such a licence would then be allowed to let their patrons smoke inside again. However, this licence would need to be introduced with great care, thus the idea of choice comes into play.

There would be little point in allowing all pubs in one town to hold a smokers’ licence, as those wishing to just enjoy a drink or two in a clean atmosphere would not be able to. Thus local authorities, who should have the ultimate authority over the licences, would decide upon which pubs could, and could not, permit smoking inside by means of a cap: with at least, say 40% non-smoking pubs and 40% smoking pubs.

As I said, it’s not a perfect plan, and it would most certainly be received with very mixed opinions, but at least I’m trying to offer suggestions to save the Great British Pub.

Which is more than can be said about the Government.

Since I posted the above article (edited for relevance), an exchange with a regular commenter made me think a little bit more. Pubs should be allowed to become smoking pubs or food-serving pubs, they may become neither, but should not become both. Pubs may have seperate, enclosed smoking rooms, with a seperate bar.

Whichever way you look at it, the present system is not working, and if the government would open their eyes and see that it is the smoking ban affecting pubs most and offered choice, then maybe there would be hope after all.