A "chaotic muddle" and a "perverse outcome" were just two of the criticisms levelled at the Government's shambolic introduction of the smoking bill last week.

After months of speculation that the Cabinet might muster courage enough to introduce the blanket ban that would have done so much to protect hospitality workers and their customers from the dangers of second-hand smoking, health secretary Patricia Hewitt opted instead for a fudge.

A week of unseemly ministerial squabbling ended with a bill that bans smoking in restaurants and pubs that serve food in England, and at the bar, but allows it to continue in non-food pubs, private members' clubs and hotel rooms.

As for clarification on what constitutes smoking "at the bar" and what's classed as bar food (wrapped sandwiches? Pork pies?), there was none.

Just as frustrating as the actual content of the bill, was Hewitt's glib assertion that its exemptions would affect just 1% of the nation's workforce.

In a comment piece for CatererSearch this week, the British Hospitality Association's Bob Cotton estimates that as many as 100,000 hospitality employees will continue to work in exempted premises, should this unworkable bill become law.

Whether or not that number equates to 1% of the workforce is irrelevant. It is, quite simply, an awful lot of people left inhaling other peoples' smoke in order to earn a day's wage.

The smoking bill has a distance to travel before it becomes law, and Caterer and Hotelkeeper will add its voice to any calls for it to be remoulded.

We launched our Stub out Smoking campaign because we think all hospitality professionals have the right to expect to carry out their work without seeing their health compromised. It's a shame our Government seems not to agree with us.