Still up in the air

As The Publican's Butt Out! campaign gathers pace in Wales, Daniel Pearce went to Cardiff to speak to licensees about their fight against a smoking ban.

Feelings were running high when The Publican's Butt Out! campaign reached the Welsh Assembly in Cardiff. Four Butt Out! buses brought in licensees and customers from across South Wales to protest at the Assembly's plans to bring in a blanket ban on smoking in public places.

Organised by Licensed Victuallers Wales (LVW), the protest saw 1,200 balloons let off into the sky - one for every job licensees fear will be up in the air if a total ban is introduced.

The Assembly's plans for a ban had been discussed in Cardiff the day before, with March 2008 named as a possible start date.

Those present were convinced that the policy - which is expected to be given the green light by Westminster's Public Health Bill - is being driven not by the country's pub-goers and consumers but by Assembly members hell-bent on making a name for themselves with the issue.

Among the 47 Assembly members, 40 are believed to be non-smokers and licensees fear that the argument is being swayed without proper consultation with the people of Wales. And without taking note of the very real fear that large numbers of Welsh pubs, many of which play a vital role in serving rural communities, are under threat.

But David Davies, the Conservative Assembly Member for Monmouth, gave the protesters some hope on the day.

"A few Assembly members from different parties are becoming concerned about the implications of a complete smoking ban," he told The Publican.

"The sensible solution would be for pubs, where they can, to have a smoking and a no-smoking room. I'm an ex-smoker myself, and it doesn't bother me if people want to smoke in the pub.

"The Assembly spends too much time trying to think up new laws to impose on people. I've seen a lot of pubs in South Wales turned into homes - I'm afraid we could see a lot more if a smoking ban is introduced."

LVW secretary John Price claimed as many as 15 Assembly members were becoming interested in the protesters' argument.

This is what protesters told The Publican on the day.

Peter Vaivars of the Royal Oak in Ynyswen near Treorchy: "Eighty per cent of my customers are smokers and I genuinely believe I am going to lose 80 per cent of my business.

"It's a case of supply and demand. There is already a problem with binge-drinking - if people can't smoke in the pub there'll be more parties at home, more disorder and more domestic violence. Pubs keep drinkers under control.

"As it happens all our staff are smokers, although that isn't a deliberate policy.

"Do I think the Assembly could change its mind? If I didn't, why are we protesting? But I'm not very hopeful. It's the nanny staters. The Welsh Assembly has to look for things to justify its existence, doesn't it?"

Peter Thomas of the Anchor Hotel in Tafswell, outside Cardiff: "All the Assembly seems to be interested in is a total ban. It's going to ruin the licensed trade. We want the opportunity to have a ban in one room. We just feel they are asking for too much. Hopefully this demonstration today will turn their heads - there are so many people who will lose their premises. People won't get used to it - three quarters of my customers are smokers."

Ian May is a customer at the Bush Hotel in Clydachnvale in the Rhondda Valley: "People should have a voice. It's the small businesses which are going to lose out. If I couldn't go to my pub and have a cigarette I'd be more likely to buy beer from the supermarket and drink at home.

"That's why I'm here, to support my publican John Price, and the minority. At the end of the day what's wrong with freedom of choice? If I wasn't a smoker - and I didn't used to be - I'd feel the same way as it's about freedom."

Seamus Healy, the Village Tavern in Clydach near Swansea: "Where I come from originally in County Clare five pubs have closed since the smoking ban was brought in last year. There's definitely a decrease in sales - the pubs in Dublin are not doing too badly, but rural pubs are in trouble. I think that's the sort of thing we are going to see in Wales.

"I've got three rooms, I'm prepared to make one room smoke-free. But the Assembly is not prepared to compromise."

Bar worker Leon Williams, from the Village Tavern in Clydach near Swansea: "I've been working in the pub since January and smoke's not a problem because we've got good ventilation. We've got a lot of smokers, but it doesn't bother me."

Julie Wigley (pictured on left)​, Tremains, Treorchy: "I have already banned smoking around the bar. We have about 50 per cent smokers and when I did a survey a lot of them said they'd probably drink at home if smoking was banned.

"There's no hope - if we could have one room for smoking that would be feasible."

Julie Brown (pictured above on right)​, of Tynewydd Hotel in Tynewydd: "I don't agree with publicans being prosecuted if people are found smoking on the premises. If someone lights up on a bus, the bus driver doesn't get prosecuted. Imagine two big blokes who have been smoking in the pub for 20 years - what are we supposed to say?

"My neighbours wouldn't like if I put a canopy up out the back. And they wouldn't like the noise - you've got to respect your neighbours. The Welsh Assembly has got the power and it wants to prove it."

Yvonne Parfitt, of the Quarryman's Arms in Merthyr Tydfil: "This affects a lot of people - cafés and restaurants too - and I would like to have seen more of them here today. We all have to be united if we are going to stop this.

"Let's put it to a referendum and go for it. Non-smokers are the nanny state. We're adults - after all, that's why we are in pubs drinking.

"We have a little no-smoking area. Many of my staff are smokers - in fact I think if they bring in a ban they might not want to work here any more."