Smokers are in trouble again. Despite having been banished to the patios, beer gardens and pavements of pubs around the country, they are still causing problems.
But post-July 1 it's not second-hand smoke that's the problem - it's noise.
When the ban hit in England, smokers were scurrying in and out of boozers dodging the rain that plagued our summer months. But in the last few weeks, with the sun finally showing its face, puffers have been taking their time to enjoy the outdoors.
For some licensees this has meant a much needed boost to their business, but for others it has heralded major problems.
Many are having to monitor the amount of noise that customers make outdoors in a bid to keep their residential neighbours on-side.
Dave Coombs, licensee at the Greyhound in West Haughton, Bolton, has faced complaints from nearby residents. He argues the ban has completely changed the way he runs his pub.
"There was never any problem before the ban," he says. "But now the residents are complaining about the smokers in the garden, the high volume of noise and the swearing. We've put notices up all around the pub, on the tables, but it doesn't seem to be helping."
By the book
In an effort to keep a check on the problem, Dave has introduced a noise monitor book to take a note of when levels may be getting too high. But unfortunately, he explains, noise can sometimes not be helped.
"A pub is where people come to relax and have a laugh and you have to appreciate that," he says. "We sell alcohol and it changes people's personalities."
Trade has also suffered at the Greyhound as a result of the ban, Dave claims, with takings down by around £600 a week.
"We have lost out because the non-smokers that we were promised have not turned up and a lot of smokers are fed up with having to go outside," he explains. "I have had to go out and get a part-time job."
However, by the winter, Dave predicts it will be less of an issue. "With the recent fine weather people are tending to go out as a group, so by the winter I don't think it will be so much of a problem," he says.
In Brighton, John Davies, licensee of the Cleveland, has faced similar problems as the pub's in a residential area.
"We have put signs up and asked people to respect the neighbours, but what else can you do?" he asks.
The pub is opposite a park and John says that often the noise from there is blamed on them.
He says he does his best to inform his neighbours of any events, but it means another job when he is already over-stretched. "We are a small operation and this just creates another problem for us," he explains.
Keeping residents in the loop
Tales of noise-related issues are also filtering through from other parts of the country. In Coventry, the local council has received complaints concerning smoking-related noise around 14 pubs, with letters being sent out about the issue.
And, in Sunderland, council chiefs are reporting several complaints from residents living next door to pubs.
Litter has also been a problem for pubs, with smokers discarding their fag butts on pavements outside. But
it is rowdy customers that residents seem to be making the most noise about.
So what about a way to combat these issues? One solution that John Davies sees is alternating the areas where he allows his customers to smoke. Currently the pub's yard
area is no-smoking, but by the winter he is considering letting people smoke there.
Another slightly more alternative idea John has is to plant some trees outside his pub to camouflage smokers and dampen the sound they make. "I'd have to get permission from the council, but it's another possible way to address the situation," he points out.
Awareness
Despite the problems, the authorities seem aware of the issues. Local authority co-ordinating body LACORS has included advice for councils on noise issues in its guidance.
Meanwhile, a spokesman offered this advice: "The key to dealing with noise problems is good communication, both with local residents and with planning, licensing, environmental protection and smoke-free officers.
"Understanding the letter of the new laws is obviously of paramount importance but talking things through with your neighbours, and taking steps to keep customers' noise down, can often go a long way."
In one respect pubs are in a catch-22 situation on this issue. With winter just around the corner smokers will be less inclined to hang around outside in the cold. At the same time they want to encourage smoking customers, which means providing a decent, possibly heated, outdoor area… which again could mean noise.
Hopefully the issue is no more than a teething problem for pubs in relation to the ban and over time it will die down.
Now that would be something to shout about…
Top tips for publicans with noise issues
• Speak to your neighbours and explain to them where and when your customers will be using outside areas.
• If you notice customers being noisy while using an outside area, have a word with them and ask them politely to be considerate of your neighbours.
• When there is no specific area and customers have to use the front of the premises (i.e. the street or pavement) you should be aiming for them to have a cigarette and then return inside as quickly as possible.
• Put up posters reminding your customers of the neighbours and asking them to be considerate. Small gestures such as these show neighbours that you are acting responsibly.
Information provided by LACORS
'Talk to your neighbours'
Nigel Williams, who runs three pubs in the Sheffield area, has so far managed to avoid any issues with noise by taking a proactive stance with his neighbours.
"We try to get our neighbours
on-board by maintaining a regular dialogue with them," Nigel explains.
"If we are holding a special event we always try to make sure we tell them about it."
Nigel is also in the process of putting up signs around the pub to remind his customers that they are in a residential area.