Pub industry bosses have backed the fight to stub out smoking and introduce a comprehensive smoking ban in all enclosed workplaces in England.
At a press conference today (23 January) the British Beer and Pub Association finally joined forces with the wider hospitality industry to call on MPs to support one smoking law for all.
With MP’s free vote next month on the health bill making a ban on smoking in pubs highly likely, pub industry leaders have been forced to concede the point in a bid to protect the industry’s interests.
Rob Hayward, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association said: “Exempting Britain’s 20,000 members’ clubs from a smoking ban that affected all pubs would be grossly unfair on the pub trade, and make no sense in terms of protecting people from second-hand smoke.”
John Grogan MP, joint-chairman of the Parliamentary Labour Health Committee, added: “I would strongly urge my colleagues in Parliament not to apply different standards in smoking to bar staff just because they work in a club rather than a pub.”
By Chris Druce
Get your copy of Caterer and Hotelkeeper every week - click here to subscribe and save 25%.
Sudoku
Join the craze and play Sudoku online! |