Hospitality workers in north-east England are unlikely to gain any health benefits from the Government's proposals to restrict smoking in the workplace, according to a recent survey.

A survey of pubs and working men's clubs in the region, conducted by anti-smoking lobby group Fresh, found that at least half would continue to allow smoking under the Government's proposals for a partial ban in the workplace. Under current plans, only pubs that serve and prepare food would have to forbid smoking by 2009.

The region's population already suffers from lung-cancer levels well above the national average, and campaigners believe the current proposals are unlikely to change that.

"The North-east has a very high number of pubs and working men's clubs that could be exempt from the legislation because they don't serve food on the premises," said Ailsa Rutter, acting director of Fresh.

"Taking the area of Easington, without a complete ban only 19% of venues would have to enforce the smoke-free legislation, which means many people would continue to be at risk from the dangers of second-hand smoke."

In Prime Minister Tony Blair's constituency of Sedgefield, only 50% of pubs would have to ban smoking.

The findings contradict the Department of Health's estimates predicting that only 10-20% of pubs would be exempt from legislation to ban smoking.

Bar staff are recognised as among those most at risk from smoke in the workplace, with an estimated one hospitality worker a week dying from the effects of second-hand smoke.