Beer garden smoking ban ‘draconian’

EXTENDING the smoking ban to beer gardens could be the final nail in the coffin for already struggling pubs, MPs are claiming.

Shipley MP Philip Davies and Leeds North-West MP Greg Mulholland fear Government proposals to extend the ban to areas outside pubs including the gardens would damage an already stretched industry.

Mr Mulholland, chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Save the Pub Group, said while smoking had serious health implications there was a need for a balance to be struck between protecting the rights of non-smokers and the rights of adults who choose to smoke.

He said: “Just when pubs have got to grips with the smoking ban and have found ways to cater for non-smokers and smokers alike, this nanny state New Labour Government wants to ban something else.

“This really is quite ludicrous as well as draconian and will cause more damage to pubs that are already hard hit in the current climate.

“It is as if members of the Government wake up and think ‘What can I do to damage the pub trade today?

“It is high time Ministers woke up to the positive role that pubs play in communities and as a controlled, sociable drinking environment are actually an important part of the solution to problem drinking, rather than treating people as naughty children and trying to ban everything.”

Latest figures show 16 pubs have closed across Oldham since 2005, of which three have closed since the smoking ban was introduced in the summer of 2007. A further twelve pubs have closed in Ashton.

Mr Davies added: “This sort of anti-smoking crusade is over the top. People can argue for or against a smoking ban in enclosed spaces but to include outside as well is just ludicrous.

“It is kicking an industry when it is down. I fear it will be the straw that breaks the camels back.”

The MPs fear the “draconian” measures will force people to stay at home and endanger children through passive smoking and force many more pubs to close.

Last week Health secretary Andy Burnham set out plans to halve the number of smokers in the UK to one in 10 by 2020.