UK: Unfair law on smoking will shut down pubs and drive out food says British Beer and Pub Association
Commenting on the smoking aspects of the Health Improvement Bill published on October 27 the British Beer and Pub Association Chief Executive Rob Hayward said:
“This is groundhog day. We are back to square one, with a proposal that is unworkable and grossly unfair on Britain’s pubs. I hope further consultation will make the Government think again.”
“Our first major concern centres on the proposed exclusion of clubs from the ban. There are more than 20,000 clubs ranging from Labour and working mens’ clubs to big sports clubs. Across the country, clubs compete head-to-head with pubs. The fact that you will be able to eat, drink and smoke in clubs but not in pubs is a gross distortion of the market and threatens to put many local community pubs out of business. If the Bill really is about protecting workers health, where is the logic in this distinction?
“The Government’s food distinction is almost unworkable. We are now back trying to define what is or is not food. Our own members are telling us that 20 per cent of pubs will take food out in order to remain smoking. How does this square with the Government's alcohol policy, which is supposedly trying to encourage more food in pubs?
“We have real fears that the Government is trying to rush these enormous changes through. Pubs will need a sensible period to plan and adjust.
"We will press the Government over the coming weeks for a much more realistic proposal, which provides a level playing field for all pubs and clubs, and choice for our customers.”
The British Beer and Pub Association is the UK’s leading organisation representing the brewing and pub sector. Its members account for 98% of the beer brewed in the UK and own nearly two thirds of Britain’s 59,000 pubs.
The most recent industry initiative on smoking was launched last year. Since September 2004, 23 BBPA member companies (plus three non-member companies), covering some 30,000 pubs (50% of all pubs in the UK), have committed themselves to achieving the following:
· December 2005: No smoking at the bar and no smoking in back of house areas
· December 2009: Pubs and bars to become predominantly no-smoking, with trading floor space being reduced for customers who smoke from a maximum of 65% currently to a maximum of 20% by 2009
· These companies are also committed in general terms to developing exclusively smoke free pubs and bars where appropriate and practical
The BBPA regularly surveys its members to assess the progress of its initiative. The latest survey, carried out in July 2005, indicates:
· No smoking at the bar has already been implemented by 42% of the pubs in our sample
· No smoking in back of house areas has already been implemented by 55% of the pubs in our sample
· On floor space, 66% of the pubs in our sample have no smoking areas. Of these, 34% had allocated over one third of their trading floor space as no smoking, 11% had allocated over half of their trading floor space as no smoking, and 1% of premises were smoke free.
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