The smoking issue continues to hot up. As Caterer went to press this week, the Scottish Executive looked likely to introduce an outright ban on smoking in all public places - including restaurants, bars and hotels. But if, as expected, the Scottish Executive decides on a blanket ban, it will do so against the advice of health secretary John Reid.
The Government's White Paper on health - finally expected to see the light of day next week - looks likely to press for a less sweeping solution. Reid is thought to favour a system whereby operators apply for a council-administered licence to allow smoking, with licences granted only to businesses that have installed effective ventilation systems.
With a General Election looming, Reid's Government is keen to avoid accusations of spawning a nanny state, and shifting responsibility to local authority level neatly sidesteps this problem.
Clever stuff, Dr Reid. But how does this help hospitality workers or the industry they serve? If we reach a scenario where a total ban applies north of Hadrian's Wall, but only a partial ban to the south of it, what kind of message will the Government be sending out to hospitality professionals?
Are we saying that the health of Scottish hospitality workers is somehow more valuable than that of their southern counterparts?
Then there's the impact on businesses. Without a level playing field, nationwide chains will end up offering a customer experience that varies from region to region, and having to explain to employees why it is that some must suffer the repercussions of second-hand smoking, while others don't.
We know the UK's hospitality workforce is in favour of an outright ban on smoking in the workplace. Exclusive Caterer research has found that 95% of them believe working in a smoky atmosphere damaged their health; while 57% said they had already noticed side effects from working in a smoky environment.
Given these statistics, Caterer welcomes the Scottish Executive's plans to tackle the smoking issue head-on. But we call on Westminster to take a deep breath and follow suit. Only by doing so can they safeguard the health of the UK's million-plus hospitality professionals. After all, surely lives saved outweigh votes gained?