ALMR warns over lack of smoke ban details

ALMR hits out at Government for announcing start date for the smoking ban but failing to give licensees the tools to prepare.

The Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) has hit out at the Government for announcing a start date for the smoking ban but failing to give licensees the tools to prepare.

Responding to today's announcement warned Ministers that further delay in finalising these would create confusion and could irreparably damage the pub trade.

Nick Bish, ALMR chief executive, said: "We accept that a smoking ban is coming and that it is coming soon. This announcement was of no surprise, but we are perplexed that the Government has announced the start date without confirming what the licensed trade must do to comply.

The trade was badly let down in Scotland and the Government must learn the lessons from that Nick Bish, ALMR chief executive

"Over a third of pub customers are smokers and this rises to 46% in community pubs. The ban is an opportunity for us to improve our external facilities. But to take advantage of this, operators need clear, unambiguous and above all workable rules published well in advance of the ban's implementation to allow them to make the necessary changes to their business to accommodate smokers. To pick a date even before final Regulations are published flies in the face of this."

The ALMR said the Government did "exactly the same thing when they changed the licensing laws" and that "rushed smoking legislation" in Scotland led to a 10% decline in pub sales.

It warned that the Government risked making the same mistakes unless it published final regulations before Christmas.

Bish, said: "There is clearly a cost involved when such a major piece of legislation is introduced and further delay will have a devastating impact on business.

"Pub owners can't afford to spend their money twice! In Scotland, the effect was the more dramatic because the regulations were finalised only just before the ban took effect, and the proposals for outside areas were tightly drafted. The trade was badly let down there and the Government must learn the lessons from that."

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