Fears over barstaff exposure to smoke are unfounded if licensees have Charter-standard ventilation, new research has suggested.
The University of Glamorgan study, undertaken with the backing of Atmosphere Improves Results (AIR), revealed that the ventilation approved by the industry's Smoking Charter was up to 80 per cent effective in protecting barstaff from the effects of passive smoking.
The investigation, conducted at the Airport pub in Wythenshawe, Manchester, took place over a week during different times of the day - including when the pub was full of customers.
It is hoped this research will give weight to the views of the Charter Group and will give a signal to the government that self-regulation is still the best way forward for the pub trade rather than an outright smoking ban.
Oliver Griffiths, director of AIR, said: "These great results were achieved with fairly simple and affordable technology - some fans that bring in fresh air over the bar and some ordinary window fans that take the stale air away from customers.
"It is very good news for barstaff, who should lobby their employers to improve their conditions."
However, the findings were dismissed by anti-smoking charity Action on Smoking and Health (ASH).
Amanda Standford, ASH's research manager, said the only totally reliable means of removing the harmful effects of tobacco smoke pollution was to ban smoking altogether.
The industry's Charter Group, which promotes self-regulation on smoking through the use of signage, good ventilation and no-smoking areas where possible, has so far managed to push smoking reform temporarily on to the back-burner.
Sixty-three per cent of pubs in England and Wales are now compliant with the Charter - beating the government requirement of 50 per cent.
Evidence also shows that 51 per cent of Charter-compliant pubs restricted smoking or provided high quality ventilation - comfortably beating the agreed 35 per cent target.
This latest research comes at a time when pubs in Ireland have failed to reach a compromise over smoking in pubs and will face an outright ban in January 2004.
Manchester City Council is considering introducing a new by-law to stop smoking in pubs and clubs while health chiefs in Northumberland have also admitted they are supportive of restricting smoking in public places.
AIR tests
AIR has four further ventilation tests planned with the university and will publish the results in the next edition of its technical guidance on how to improve air quality.
Ventilation guides on how to clear the smoke are available free from AIR, Freepost 39 LON20592, London W1E 8AT or phone: 020 7482 0620.