Welsh licensees unite under Butt Out! campaign

Licensees from across South Wales came together at a meeting last night (Wednesday) against the proposed blanket smoking ban in the country.

Publicans came from as far away as Fishguard in Pembrokeshire to the Swansea meeting against the plans of the Welsh Assembly.

Licensees backed The Publican's Butt Out! campaign, urging the Welsh Assembly to leave smoking issues to Westminster. Every publican present is placing a Butt Out! customer petition, to be sent to Westminster MPs and Welsh Assembly Members, on their bar.

Grey Philips, secretary of the Swansea & District Licensed Victuallers Association - which organised the meeting - said that he was pleased at the turnout, but urged more licensees to get involved.

"We must drive this forward. It is not too late for licensees to register and have an impact," he said. "This ban is not a fait accompli - we can stop it if everyone shows they don't want it."

Meanwhile a growing number of local authorities in England are believed to want to ban smoking completely in public places. As many as 30 areas - including Bradford, Brighton and Sheffield - are ready to implement their own bans, should they be allowed to.

Under the Butt Out! campaign The Publican is currently fighting the plans of Liverpool and Westminster city councils to introduce their own bans in the House of Lords. The Publican is expecting to be invited to give evidence at the Lords later this year.