Licensees warned of "apathy" over smoking ban

Licensees have been warned of the dangers of "apathy" when it comes to next summer's smoking ban.

"Apathy with the ban is the most dangerous thing that can happen," said Andrew Thompson, Punch Taverns' operations director (North), who has helped oversee the legislation for the company's pubs in Scotland. "No action, no option."

However, during his speech at the Federation of Licensed Victuallers' Associations AGM in Scarborough last week, he added that Scottish pubs which had adapted to the ban had flourished. "The good news is that the world hasn't ended," he said. "Great pubs have remained great pubs and the good pubs have become great pubs."

Mr Thompson pointed to an increase in food sales and retail standards as positives that had come from the ban. But he urged licensees to speak to their customers in preparation for the legislation and to give customers a reason to visit.

"Remember that people go to the pub to socialise and the fact they can't smoke may not stop them going because there are no pubs they can smoke in."

Mr Thompson said smokers congregating outside pubs could become an issue. In Scotland he said the authorities were starting to take notice. However he said that one of the successes of the Scottish story had been the self-policing by the trade.

Later Michelle Baker, project director of clean-air initiative AIR, said inconsistencies across local authorities and the problem of delays over planning applications were creating difficulties. She also highlighted that councils had been cracking down on people smoking in doorways of pubs and noise was becoming the most difficult issue.

In terms of the impact the ban has had, she explained that a new circuit had developed for smokers, with them making decisions based on who has the best smoking facilities.

Advice on outside areas from AIR:

- Publicans were urged to consider spending a little bit more on materials that would last.

- Work out what you want to offer and what your competition can do

- Talk to your customers and your neighbours

- Check what is allowed in your area

- Put in your planning application

- Use quality materials and get them at the right time, while there are still stocks