by Tony Halstead
Licensees have just 11 days to deliver their views on proposed smoking legislation before the deadline for submissions on the Choosing Health White Paper.
Trade groups were this week busily putting the final touches to their own submissions before the consultation period ends on 5 September.
But individual licensees are also being reminded they can play an influential role by sending in representations to the Department of Health.
Federation of Licensed Vic-tuallers Associations chief exec- utive Tony Payne said it was vital that as many hosts as possible submitted representations.
'There is still time for licensees to express their views and it is important they do this because these proposals will put the future of thousands of pubs at risk, he said.
'Many small pubs will not be able to sustain their businesses if smokers decide to desert their local, he added.
Submissions by the various industry groups will vary in format, but most will seek to oppose the views of a growing number of MPs who are campaigning for an all-out smoking ban in pubs.
A second strand will be trying to persuade the Government to give the trade more choice and options in the way that they approach the smoking-in-pubs issue.
The Morning Advertiser has drawn up its own list of options, which it wants the Government to consider.
These comprise separate smoking rooms for customers in food pubs, smoking to be allowed in 'non-food trading sessions, a smoking ban around all bars by January next year and abandonment of the proposed exemption to the new legislation for clubs.
The British Beer & Pubs Association, in common with other trade bodies, is in the final stages of drawing up its submission.
'We do not support a ban based on food because in many pubs this is only an extra to the overall business.
'It's also a fact that many licensees have already introduced voluntary measures to tackle the smoking issue, said communications manager Neil Williams.
Licensees can register their views by sending representation to: Smokefree Legislation Team, Health Improvement Director-ate, Department of Health, Room 707, Waterloo Road, London SE1 8UG.
Total smoking ban lobby sticks to its guns
The trade faces fierce opposition from the anti-smoking lobby, led by doctors who are calling for a complete ban in all enclosed public places.
The British Medical Association (BMA) is supporting the Smokefree Coalition which is pressing for total prohibition.
The BMA has already asked its members to lobby their local MPs and is encouraging them to take part in the Choosing Health White Paper consultation process.
A poll commissioned by Cancer Research UK and Action on Smoking & Health (Ash) revealed 73% of people questioned favoured an all-out ban. It also suggested 85% would visit bars and pubs more often if they were smoke free by law.
But the Tobacco Manufacturers Association said the figures were at odds with other polls that suggested only 31% of people favoured a pub smoking ban. It accused Ash and its supporters of piling on the pressure, almost to the point of desperation.
TMA chief executive Tim Lord said Office of National Statistics figures revealed that only 31% of people wanted an outright ban.