Licensees who have signed up to the industry's charter on smoking are being asked to recruit neighbouring pubs to help avert a smoking ban.
Ministers want 50 per cent of pubs to be charter compliant by 2003 and, with only six months to go before the deadline, the trade is being urged to act now.
Failure to meet the target could prompt the Department of Health to consider tougher laws on smoking in pubs, or even a complete ban.
Although initial research suggests pubs are on target to meet the deadline, the trade's Charter Group is urging licensees to help improve compliance by spreading the word to colleagues and neighbours.
To become charter compliant pubs must display a sign informing customers of their smoking policy whether it is smoking allowed throughout or in a separate area, and with or without ventilation.
The British Institute of Innkeeping's Georgina Wald said that those who have failed to comply are missing out on a real opportunity to join others that are actively working towards creating a better environment in their pub.
"Complying with the charter is easy and yet a disappointingly low number of operators are taking steps to display a sign and improve their air quality. We are asking those who have taken the initiative to request materials for their less responsive neighbours to encourage them to meet the targets."
Licensee Lynne Price, who runs the Ivanhoe pub in Scarborough, Yorkshire, and is already charter compliant, said she had already begun spreading the word.
She said: "It's so easy to do, I cannot understand why others haven't done it.
"I think people need a shove because they do not realise how simple it is. Even the managed houses around here that are usually the first to take up a new initiative have not complied."
When ministers assess the impact of the charter at the end of the year, they will also be checking that 35 per cent of pubs that are charter compliant display "good practice" signs. These indicate that pubs have no-smoking areas and/or charter-standard ventilation.
The Atmosphere Improves Results (AIR) initiative reports that few of the venues with "good practice" signs have registered their compliance so far, which means there are no accurate figures to indicate take up.
Earlier this year the charter was criticised by the Greater London Authority. It said it was "unambitious" and its standards were "too low".
But the trade hit back and said the situation was improving daily with hundreds of pubs now complying with the charter and more signing up every week.
Publicans can register their compliance by visiting the website at www.airinitiative.com or by calling AIR on 020 7482 0620.
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