UK: British Beer & Pub Association comments on outcome of smoking vote

Commenting on the result of this evening�s votes on smoking, Mark Hastings, Director of Communications at the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), said on February 14:

"We are pleased that MPs have ensured a level playing field for all, with no exemption for private members� clubs. Such clubs are in direct competition with pubs, and they are not private places. They sell 1.2 billion pints of beer a year, and their thousands of employees are subject to the same health and safety at work regulations as pub industry staff.

�Now the real hard work begins, preparing our customers and pubs for this cultural shift. There is still the prospect that hundreds of community pubs will close and people will lose their jobs.�

Members� clubs are those as defined by the Licensing Act 2003.There are more than 20,000 such clubs in Britain. These cover clubs such as the British Legion or working men�s clubs, sports clubs, other private members clubs, political party clubs and local social clubs