Wednesday 4 July 2012

Smoking rooms would lead to more restrictions outdoors, says Bish

The Publican's Morning Advertiser reports overwhelming support for a change in the law to allow support for smoking rooms in licensed premises.

Yet Nick Bish, CEO of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers warned against 'turning back the clock':
“We need to be careful what we wish for – starting a debate on smoking rooms does not mean it will end there and would inevitably re-open discussions about restrictions in beer gardens, and no-smoking anywhere near the premises. That would turn customers off and the trade away,” he said.
I appreciate that Nick Bish has a busy job to do – there are many other issues in the licensed trade than smoking – but he heads an organisation that opposes a plank of legislation that has ruined many in his sector and done pub values no favours at all. The thought that ASH might attempt to force an outdoor ban is interesting, but the whole premise of the ban is meant to be protecting workers from second-hand smoke exposure.

Publicans are forced by the smoking ban to ensure that the no smoking is observed, without compensation and on pain of dire penalties if they get it wrong (as this Irish publican discovered). Bish's members should demand better representation: Bish accepts as given that government is there to restrict smoking areas and will inevitably get its way if there is a fight.

Share prices tell much of the story. The smoking ban has caused huge damage. Perhaps HorecaClaim can help. But the issue needs proper leadership.

5 comments:

Dick Puddlecote said...

That story about the Irish publican is hilarious! :)

Anonymous said...

Bish is a JudasGoat he speaks for
the pub GROUPS (PUBCOS)
What he is admitting is ,
the ban is a social engineering issue ,nothing to do with Health.
Think about it ,if you have a smoking room but you cant smoke in the back yard. ? ? ? ? ?
The various freedom activists had better get their act together
QUICK
before they start banning Bette Davis Movies
Maybe someone can clarify WHAT is
being done to recruit the European Bar Owners to the fight.Its obvious the reliance on the WEB has been a total failure.

Pavement Fusilier

Jonathan Bagley said...

yes it's very funny

"When they brought the ban in I was the only publican at a meeting on the Commons Road to stand up and say it would be good for business..."

"I have a smoking area, only smokers go in there. I would say there's 35 per cent of it open, not the 50 per cent required, but if half of it was open my customers would be frozen by the south west wind that comes in there."

"Ireland won't get up off its knees with this shit going on - and you can quote me on that," he concluded.

Chris W said...

Why would Ash Push for Banning Smoking outside if there was a call for Smoking rooms,it does not make sense ?,as for the Ban being introduced to protect staff(who mostly smoked) I never recalled any staff asking for this ,there should of been a vote surely?.

Anonymous said...

"there should of been a vote surely?"

No need.
ASH and the Unions had already decided.


GMB demonstrates for total ban
24 November 2005

"Hospitality workers from the GMB union make a point about the dangers of second-hand smoke at a protest outside a Gala casino in London last week.

The protesters were marking National Lung Cancer Day (17 November) by donning gas masks and calling on the Government to introduce a total ban on smoking in public places that doesn't exempt private members' clubs and pubs that don't serve food."
http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/25/11/2005/303643/GMB-demonstrates-for-total-ban.htm


MPs urged to vote for total smoking ban

"Unions and public health officers are urging MPs to back a total ban on smoking in public places, including pubs and clubs. The calls come after the government's decision last week to allow Labour MPs a free vote on the smoking ban proposals in the health Bill (Risks 239). The TUC has already called for a ban without exceptions. And last week GMB organiser Mick Ainsley, whose union organises casino workers, said: 'We are writing to all GMB sponsored MPs to remind them that the issue here is not about a smoker's individual choice, it is about the right of workers not to breathe in secondhand smoke.'
http://www.tuc.org.uk/workplace/tuc-11271-f0.pdf


Rose