Smoke ban a step nearer
Last-ditch attempts to exempt private members' clubs from the smoking ban - and have separate smoking areas in pubs that serve food - have both failed.
An amendment to the Health Bill - which would have exempted private members' clubs - was tabled by Labour peer Lord Pendry yesterday.
It drew a large amount of support but was eventually voted out by 97 votes to 157.
I believe this amendment would create more problems than it would solve and it has absolutely no support from the Government.Government health spokesman Lord Warner.
The Government was originally in favour of making clubs exempt but the idea was thrown out by the Commons on a free vote in February - much to the relief of the trade which argued for a level playing field for all licensed premises.
The Lords also rejected a call for separate well-ventialted smoking and non-smoking areas in premises which served food by 221 votes to 70.
Liberal Democrat peer Lord Russell-Johnston, who tabled the amendment, questioned the evidence presented on the dangers of passive smoking.
He said: "This amendment, if implemented would in no way detract from the Government's intentions to isolate smoking, even though I consider their argument ill founded.
"It would, however, protect freedom of choice and uphold the rights of smokers and non-smokers alike."
However, Government health spokesman in the Lords, Lord Warner said: "I believe this amendment would create more problems than it would solve and it has absolutely no support from the Government."
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Your CommentsRobert Feal-Martinez via email 20/06/2006"It is a sad day for democracy when hate, bigotry and lies usurp the Parliamentary process as has happened over the smoking ban. The hatred for smokers by groups such as ASH, who government have allowed to essentially write their policy on this ban, the bigotry of Government itself retaining their right to smoke in Parliament and the Lies of the medical profession, charities as well as Government. At every stage of this the public wanted choice, by not allowing choice Government has acted as dictators, not as a Democracy. However Freedom to Choose can be rightly proud of what we have achieved, who would have thought we could have mustered 70 votes for our amendment that gave choice, certainly not the trade bodies, who let licensees down badly. Had they given our campaign their backing the result may well have been completely different but I guess there are no Gongs in challenging the Government. We are seriously at the mercy of ASH etal who will now pressure Government to make it virtually impossible for pubs to have outside area's. When Democracy dies, Freedom is lost."
Richard Grieshaber via email 20/06/2006"Lets just get on with it, we all no its comming so tell us when and what we have to do, the sooner the better, dont mess it up like the new licence laws!!!"
Douglas Deakin via email 20/06/2006"With regard to the licensed trade's arguement that it would be a level playing field if private members' clubs were also covered by the "no smoking ban" I beg to differ.
Ours is a small club and relies solely on it's members to survive in an area where there is a large ethnic minority population. Whilst relationships are excellent with the local community they are not the future generation of the club.
We are reliant upon the pensioner to keep the club going and they have, for years, enjoyed the rights and privileges that being a member has to offer. One of those rights and privileges is the right and privilege to have a cigarette with a drink. This has now been denied.
It has never been a level playing field for as long as I can remember as clubs have always been notoriously cheaper than pubs. This is what attracts the pensioners to them.
We have no outside beer garden or brewery help. All monies have to be raised out of the members, some of whom can hardly afford it.
This Government has used a sledgehammer to crack a nut and hurt a lot of its long time supporters in its wake. The death nell of the club and the social fabric of this country is in jeopardy because of a few. A stand has got to be made!"
Bill Gibson via email 20/06/2006"Writing this from Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Wet led bars are allowed to permit smoking
Food led bars are non-smoking
bars where revenue is 20% or les food can decide for themselves as to whether they allow smoking.
As a result, with good signage a market mix has evolved catering for everyone. This is truely the 'Land of the Free'. As Europe has embraced choice why are we being forced down a route that the majority of the public do not want. If they are given the choice of
Ssmoking
No Smoking
Ventilation linked to Indoor Air Quality Standards
Seperate Smoking RoomsWhat would the study results be?
But these choices are not being offered by Government or the BBPA as they have no interest in the individual and their rights or the small business operator. Come on you guys...those of you who are advocating a smoking ban are being conned and worse than that you are conning your customers. Wake up to the real world as choice is alive and well in the wider world.
Terry Garrington via email 20/06/2006"The taking away of civil rights and human rights, the distruction of the Freedom of Choice added to the blatent discrimination of our law abiding British Citizen..will be a policy of division and blood-shed within our Nation...Hitler was a non-smoker....Churchill ?..smoked his head off!
Cut out this Nazi style politics ,before it`s to late....
Terry Garrington...against discrimination.!!.
