Restaurant owner says he will fight 15 smoking citations

Restaurant owner says he will fight 15 smoking citations

Alamogordo man owes $6,800 in fines

ALAMOGORDO — An Alamogordo restaurant and bar owner has pleaded not guilty to more than a dozen charges of violating the state’s new smoking ban, and he vows to continue letting his customers light up.

Earlier this month, Henry Smith — owner of the Grubstake Steakhouse — was cited 15 times in a week for violating the smoking ban, which took effect in June and prohibits smoking in bars, restaurants, stores and most other indoor workplaces.

Smith appeared in Magistrate Court on Friday and entered his plea.

Smith said he has no space where smoking is not permitted at his business, and that it’s his choice to do so. He argued that the smoking ban is confusing and self-contradicting and that Otero County sheriff’s deputies don’t even understand it.

According to Smith, one section of the act mentions posting smoke-free signs in areas were smoking is prohibited and smoking permitted signs in those areas where smoking is allowed.


“I chose to make the entire building a smoke place, and under the law we can do that,” Smith said.

Smith also accuses sheriff’s deputies of violating his constitutional and civil rights. He said by coming onto his property without a warrant and carrying firearms into his bar, the deputies themselves are breaking the law.

Smith told the Alamogordo Daily News that he’s circulating a petition against the sheriff’s department.

Otero County Undersheriff Norbert Sanchez told the Albuquerque Journal in a copyright story published Saturday that he expects deputies to continue dropping by Smith’s restaurant — which he described as a public place — to enforce the law, whether they receive complaints or not.

“We don’t have any choice but to continue to enforce the act,” Sanchez said.

Cheryl Ferguson, spokeswoman for New Mexicans Concerned About Tobacco, said Smith is misinterpreting the law. She said none of the law’s exemptions — such as private residences, cigar bars, casinos, bingo parlors and private clubs — apply to Smith’s restaurant.

Edwina Reeves, coordinator of the Otero County Tobacco Education Coalition, said local businesses are all complying with the state law, if reluctantly in some cases.

“People say, ‘I didn’t like it, but the law is the law, and if we have to abide by it, so should (Smith),’ ” she said.

In a 2002 referendum, Alamogordo residents voted down a municipal proposal to ban smoking in public places.

The Journal reported that Smith faces a fine of $500 for each offense after the second in a 12-month period. Currently, he’s facing $6,800 in fines for the 15 citations.
http://www.freenewmexican.com/news/69528.html

Smoking ban blamed for factory closure

Smoking ban blamed for factory closure
by Sion Barry, Western Mail

A CENTURY-OLD cigar factory responsible for the production of Hamlet cigars is to close with the loss of nearly 200 jobs, it was confirmed yesterday.

Tobacco giant Gallaher blamed the smoking ban for the closure of its JR Freeman factory in Grangetown, Cardiff, which will close in 2009 with the loss of 184 jobs.

Workers’ union Unite said last night the news was “ a real blow” and said it would be meeting with the company on Monday to urge them to reconsider.

Gallaher says it has been experiencing declining sales in the UK for years and that this has been accelerated by the smoking ban.

The company sold 18.8 billion cigarettes in the UK in 2006, a 3.4% fall, but it declared global tobacco sales for that year worth £8.4bn, with profits of £565m, a 9.6% increase on 2005.




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In April this year, Gallaher was acquired by Japan Tobacco, one of the world’s three biggest tobacco companies, for £7.5bn.


Japan Tobacco forecasts it will produce 548 billion cigarettes by the end of March 2008 and currently has a 7.5% share of the world’s tobacco market, up from 5.2% in 1998.


Its sales from tobacco, food and pharmaceuticals for the first quarter of the financial year ending in 2008 amounted to £5.2bn.


The JR Freeman factory has been producing Hamlet cigars, touted as “the mild cigar”, for 43 years. Though sales are continually declining, 2004 figures showed that around 470 million Hamlets were sold a year.


Its popular television adverts, featuring the slogan “Happiness is a cigar called Hamlet” accompanied by Bach’s Air on the G String, starred the likes of comedy actors Gregor Fisher and Russ Abbott, and former cricketer Ian Botham lighting a cigar and forgetting their woes.


Gallaher said yesterday that since 1999, sales of its cigars had dropped by 50% and production will now move to Northern Ireland, where 95 jobs will be created, probably at the company’s factory at Ballymena, in County Antrim, which employs more than 900 workers.


A company spokesman said, “The decision is a result of a continuing decline in the UK cigar market, and has been accelerated by the smoking ban. It is a commercial decision [to move production to Northern Ireland].


“Obviously the proposal is regrettable and the changes do not reflect the performance of the workforce in Cardiff.


“Commercially it is not viable to keep the Cardiff factory open.”


Staff at the JR Freeman factory, which moved to Cardiff from London in 1908 and relocated to a new factory in nearby Penarth Road in the early 1960s, were briefed on the situation yesterday.

Joan Gallagher, secretary of Grangetown Community Concern, said whole generations worked at the factory, which had in the past employed busloads of workers travelling from the Valleys. “It is a great blow to the area, it has been a big employer for many years,” she said. “Whole families have worked there, particularly women.”

Martin Mansfield, Unite’s regional officer, said last night, “This is a real blow for the workforce who still believe this factory has a viable future in Cardiff.

“Unite will be working to save this factory and keep job losses to an absolute minimum.”

http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_headline=smoking-ban-blamed-for-factory-closure%26method=full%26objectid=19859823%26siteid=50082-name_page.html

Smoking ban to expand

Smoking ban to expand
FIREFIGHTERS warn us to ‘put it out’ due to the devastating effects of carelessly discarded cigarettes – and now they could be told the same thing.

A recommendation has been put forward to ban fire officers and personnel from smoking on and off all Authority-owned premises during working hours.

If approved at a meeting of the West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service today, an outright smoking ban could be introduced next year.

A spokesman for the fire service said: “Smoking is already banned in the stations, but we do have places where existing smokers and members of staff can go to smoke.

“We still have a huge number of fires caused by smoking materials, so this is about practising what we preach.
“It is no means certain that it will go through.”


If the plan is approved by the Authority, the smoking ban will be implemented from July 1, 2008 to give existing smokers time to get used to the rule. Smokers will be given advice and support to help quit.


A report says: “It is the intention to make all Authority owned-managed premises and grounds smoke free and to prohibit all employees from smoking while at work.

http://ichuddersfield.icnetwork.co.uk/examiner/news/regional/tm_headline=smoking-ban-to-expand%26method=full%26objectid=19862067%26siteid=50060-name_page.html

Ban on smoking at the wheel

Ban on smoking at the wheel
By PETE BELL
September 28, 2007

PEOPLE caught smoking while driving could be prosecuted for failure to be in proper control of their vehicles according to the new highway code.

The drivers' guide - the first revision for eight years - was unveiled today by the Government.

Road Safety Minister Jim Fitzpatrick described the new code as "a crucial tool for all road users" but the AA said it would be harder to decipher.

Increasing in size by about 50 per cent and containing 29 more rules, it has a new safety code for novice drivers.

It tells those new to the road "If you are driving with passengers, you are responsible for their safety. Don't let them distract you or encourage you to take risks" and "Never show off or try to compete with other drivers, particularly if they are driving badly."

The code has also been updated to include new legislation that has been introduced on vehicle emissions and smoking in vehicles that are work places, as well as the provision of new stopping/directing powers to the Vehicle and Operator Services Agency and Highways Agency traffic officers.

Mr Fitzpatrick said: "The Official Highway Code is for life, not just for passing your driving test. It is a crucial tool for all road users...and applies to every stage of your life. Road safety is a responsibility we all share and everyone should have a copy of the code to keep their knowledge up to date.

"However, we know that the first few months after passing your driving test can be a risky time. This is reflected in the latest code which offers practical safety advice and reminders of the rules new drivers must abide by."

Andrew Howard, head of road safety for AA public affairs, said: "The Highway Code, the definitive guide to safe and lawful road use has grown since 1931 from 18 to 135 pages, reflecting the complexities of modern motoring and spelling out in detail the rules of the road.

"But, after an eight-year gap since the last edition, it would have been helpful to have had the changes marked out, as they were in the draft, and allow experienced drivers to skim through this 307-point version.

"A major change is the code's inclusion of smoking at the wheel as behaviour that police may interpret as a distraction and failure to be in proper control of the vehicle. This addition will polarise drivers' opinions both for and against."

http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2007450191,00.html

SMOKING BAN HITS CLIFTON SOCIAL CLUB

SMOKING BAN HITS CLIFTON SOCIAL CLUB

The future of a Clifton social club is in doubt after its owners admitted it has been badly hit by the July 1 smoking ban.

Sun Valley bingo hall and social club in Green Lane, said smokers were prepared to go outside to light up during the summer, but they feared they would stay away on cold winter nights.

The Noble Organisation said a decision would be made in the coming weeks.

The club is the on the first floor of the larger Sun Valley complex. The adult gambling centre on the ground floor will be unaffected by any changes.

Tony Gibbons, managing director of Noble's leisure division said: "It is difficult.The social club has been very badly affected by the smoking ban and other changes to the law relating to gambling.

"People have been happy to sit outside when the weather is good but they might not in January or February.

"It would be inappropriate to comment any further. Some of the staff have been with us since the place opened and we are looking at everything possible."

Another problem for the club is a ban on a certain type of high pay-out fruit machine.

The club was opened by Barry Noble in 1980 and was part of the Sun Valley Leisure Centre. It briefly included two cinemas but they closed in 1982.

Since then it has played host to regular cabaret acts and bingo nights.

Pat Tomlinson, a former regular at the club, said many residents in Clifton were upset at the possibility of it closing.

She said: "They will have to put something else to replace it because it is huge. I can't imagine them pulling it down
http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=195917

Sienna's pal Rhys gets kicked out of club for flouting smoking ban

Sienna's pal Rhys gets kicked out of club for flouting smoking ban

Hellraiser Rhys Ifans was kicked out of a London club last night after sparking up a cigarette.

The 40-year-old actor was guest of honour with his “friend” Sienna Miller at the launch of Soho's new underground nightspot Maya last night.
The pair were with two other friends, enjoying a magnum of Dom Perignon when Ifans decided to light up.

An onlooker said: "Sienna and Rhys were having a great time, they appeared very close and were necking the champagne they had been given by the club hosts.

"However, when Rhys lit his fag the hostess immediately asked him to leave and the foursome hotfooted it out of the back door."

Other guests at the launch included Sienna's stepmother Kelly Hoppen, and Nicky Clarke.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/showbiz/showbiznews.html?in_article_id=484227&in_page_id=1773

Drink spiking fears

Drink spiking fears
by Gemma Hockey



POLICE are today urging victims of drink spiking to come forward after fears that the smoking ban may be putting more women at risk.
An email was sent around the island yesterday warning of how one girl had been targeted in Town.
It follows calls to the Guernsey Press from another woman who said she too had fallen prey while drinking with friends in Bar One, earlier this month.
Some licensees believe women leaving their drinks unattended to pop outside for a cigarette are adding to the danger.
And with the start of the new party season just a few weeks away, police are calling on everyone to be more vigilant.
Crime prevention officer PC Bernie English said measures to prevent drink spiking could not be taken unless victims came forward.
‘It’s very rare and we have only had one reported case that I can think of in the last couple of months.
‘But if it does happen it’s unlikely that people would let us know,’ he said.
He said a campaign to warn people of the dangers of drink spiking, which was launched in December 2004, was ongoing.
‘We’ve had this issue many times in the last two or three years and we are still sending out posters to bars and clubs advising people to look after their drink,’ he said.
‘It’s difficult. If we are notified we can react to the problem but if we are not notified it’s very difficult for us to recognise that it’s happening,’ he said.
Bar One Licensee Glen Pontin said his wife, Suzanne, was rushed to hospital two years ago after her drink was spiked and as a result was extremely vigilant when it came to his bar.
‘My wife had just one-and-a-half glasses of wine and I had to call an ambulance because she collapsed,’ he said.
‘I would never have believed that this was happening until it happened to us.
‘I hope it’s not going on but if I ever caught someone I would be extremely angry,’ he said.
Mr Pontin said he believed women were more susceptible to having their drink

spiked since the introduction of the smoking ban last July.
‘Now with the smoking ban people are having to leave their drinks while they go outside and it’s very difficult to keep an eye on some one else’s drink when you’re chatting to other people and looking after your own,’ he said.
‘The police don’t allow people outside with drinks so people are having to leave their drinks unattended while they go outside for a cigarette.’
He praised the increased level of police presence in Town at the weekend.
‘It was brilliant they had sniffer dogs and the police were everywhere throughout the night.
‘It means that people think before they do anything and if anyone was to do anything they are either very brave or stupid,’ he said.
Anti-smoking ban campaigner and Guernsey Licensed Victuallers’ Association president Peter Leigh said it was inevitable that people’s drinks would be spiked as a result of the new law.
‘It was something we mentioned during our campaign against the ban that surely this would lead to people having their drinks spiked because people are not allowed to take their drinks outside with them when they go for a cigarette,’ he said.
‘I know it happens to ladies in the UK when men want to get something out of drugging a woman but it seems people just spike drinks for the sake of it here.’
He said he had heard of one or two women’s drinks being spiked recently in Town.
‘It’s ridiculous to have to leave your drink alone to go out for a outside for a cigarette,’ he said.
‘We don’t get don’t get that type of thing happening here because we’re a local pub and we have a smoking area where people can take their drinks outside,’ said the Hampshire Lodge landlord.
‘But there are still people who just go outside and leave their drinks on the table,’ he said.
Drinks are generally spiked for three main reasons: bullying a person who would usually abstain from substance misuse; enabling theft, principally mobile phones and cash; or date rape or sexual assault.

http://www.thisisguernsey.com/code/shownewsarticle.pl?ArticleID=002736

N.J. School District Mulls Ban On Candy Cigarettes

N.J. School District Mulls Ban On Candy Cigarettes
(AP) ROOSEVELT, N.Y. The central New Jersey township of Woodbridge is considering making it even harder for children to obtain candy and toy cigarettes.

In what's believed to be the first ordinance of its kind in New Jersey, the township has already barred vendors it licenses for public events from selling toys or candy in the shape of tobacco products.

Now, it may ban all shops from selling such goods, including chocolate cigars and bubble gum shredded to resemble chewing tobacco.

"We'll see if we can legally do it," Councilman Charles Kenny, a proponent of the ban, told The Star-Ledger of Newark in Wednesday's editions.

A similar ban was enacted by North Dakota in 1953, but it was lifted in 1967. The U.S. House of Representatives considered a measure against candy shaped like tobacco products in 1990, but it was not approved, the newspaper reported.

Ireland has outlawed candy cigarettes, and they have been restricted in parts of Canada and Australia. New Zealand banned toy cigarettes.

"Candy cigarettes are bad for kids," Joel Spivak, spokesman for the nonprofit Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, told the newspaper. "This is potentially dangerous behavior. Several studies have shown that kids who play with candy cigarettes are more likely to become smokers when they get older."

Woodbridge has over 99,000 residents, making it the state's fifth-largest municipality.

http://wcbstv.com/local/local_story_269122431.html

Belmont finalizes rules on smoking ban

Belmont finalizes rules on smoking ban
The Associated Press
Article Last Updated: 09/26/2007 09:51:31 AM PDT


BELMONT, Calif.—An aggressive anti-smoking ban that will limit smoking even within certain apartments will take effect Nov. 8, said city council members who finalized the rule.
The measure had already been approved once by city officials. Tuesday's vote made it official, clarified exactly where people can smoke indoors and outdoors and set a timeline for implementation.

"We are not going to become the smoking cops, we are going to take an educational approach to this," said City Manager Jack Crist.

The ordinance passed 3-2, with opponents arguing it was too restrictive and complicated.

It forbids smoking outside buildings within 20 feet of common areas, doors, and areas used by children. It also forbids smoking in apartments, townhouses and condominiums that share a common floor or ceiling.

Anti-smoking advocates said this move made the city the first to stop people from smoking inside their own homes. Apartment complexes and condos will have 14 months to incorporate the new rules into lease agreements.

Lighting up would still be possible on city streets and sidewalks, single-family homes and designated outdoor smoking areas.

City officials are expected to pass a final resolution, without public comment, on Oct. 9. The measure will go into effect within 30 days of that approval.
http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_7004614

HK restaurants hard hit by smoking ban

Interesting that both experts at the bottom,call for indoor smoking rooms,mainly,i suggest,because of the economic affects of the ban-maybe an angle,capitalism against the ban!

HK restaurants hard hit by smoking ban
By Louise Ho (China Daily)
http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2007-09/26/content_6134942.htm
HONG KONG: The smoking ban introduced on January 1 has resulted in reduced profits and fewer customers for 40 percent of restaurants here, a survey has revealed.

Commissioned by the Hong Kong Catering Industry Association (HKCIA) and conducted by Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the survey spoke to the owners and managers of 560 restaurants, cafes and related establishments, in which there is now a total ban on smoking.

Forty percent of respondents said sales revenue for the first six months was down on the same period last year. The same percentage said they had had fewer customers.

Establishments offering a combination of catering and karaoke were the worst hit, the survey found.

Of those, 75 percent said they had witnessed a decline in sales revenue, while 100 percent said they had had fewer customers.

Anthony Lock, managing director of karaoke group California Red Ltd, said yesterday that as a result of the ban, business was down 20 percent compared with the first half of 2006.

His venues were attracting fewer big spenders and more families, he said.

About 70 percent of the regular high-fliers - people who spend an average of HK$200 ($25) a night - were smokers, Lock said.

They drink more and stay longer than non-smoking customers, he said.

Most families visit during the promotional "breakfast karaoke" period and spend an average of just HK$30 per person, Lock said.

Smoking customers now prefer to go to Macao or the mainland, he said.

To help boost business, he said the karaoke industry had introduced a number of new ideas, including breakfast karaoke and offering a range of hymns for selection.

He said since the introduction of the ban, people tended to stay for only a couple of hours in the karaoke room and just an hour in the restaurant.

Tommy Cheung Yu-yan, the chairman of the HKCIA, said yesterday that under the current economic conditions, had the ban not been introduced, most eateries would have expected to achieve sales revenue growth of between 10 and 20 percent.

He urged the government to allow such premises to provide smoking rooms as well as non-smoking areas.

The head of the Action Group on Anti-smoking, Kwok Ka-ki, said studies carried out in California and New York had shown that smoking bans actually led to an increase in customer numbers.

However, he said smoking rooms should be allowed if they were suitably ventilated to protect the health of non-smoking patrons and staff.

Bhutan's total tobacco ban a breath of fresh air

Bhutan's total tobacco ban a breath of fresh air
Linda Creighton | U.S. News & World Report
September 25, 2007
Article tools
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Digg Del.icio.us Facebook Furl Google Newsvine Reddit Spurl Yahoo Print Single page view Reprints Reader feedback Text size: If your nicotine patch isn't cooling your ardor for cigarettes, or you're tired of smelling stale tobacco smoke in rental cars, there's a spot at the top of the world for you. Bhutan, already one of the world's most beautiful places, is the first country in the world to institute a complete ban on smoking.

Reaching 24,500 feet high in the Himalayas, the Kingdom of Bhutan was almost completely isolated until 40 years ago, with no roads, schools, electricity, phones, radios or cars. Since then, this Switzerland-size country has stepped gingerly into the modern world, restricting tourists and fiercely protecting the nation's environmental and cultural purity.

Bhutan's determination to choose its own path into the modern world has won it recognition as a model of sustainable development and health care, including its no-thank-you to smoking.



The religious and cultural biases against tobacco use have made it easier for popular King Jigme Singye Wangchuk, a graduate of Oxford University, to institute a total tobacco ban.

With 20 percent of the government budget devoted to health and education, information about the dangers of smoking has had a wide impact despite the challenge of reaching an overwhelmingly rural population.

Still, there are problems. Though it is estimated that only 1 percent of the Bhutanese population smokes, respiratory illnesses are the primary cause of mortality in the country, where life expectancy for men is 61 and women is 64. And more than 25 percent of the world's smokers live right next door, in China.

Bhutan made a pre-emptive strike with 200 percent customs duties, a tax on tobacco sales, and a $232 fine -- more than two months' salary here -- for smoking in public. And criminal charges can be brought against foreigners who sell tobacco to Bhutanese.

The smoking ban is part of the king's plan for "gross national happiness," which he says is more important than the gross national product.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/lifestyle/orl-bhutannosmoke07sep25,0,1037495.story

City expands smoking ban to bus stops, public parks

City expands smoking ban to bus stops, public parks
Final version of new Oakland law considered a victory for public health advocates
By Kelly Rayburn
STAFF WRITER

The City Council broadly expanded Oakland's secondhand smoke law early Wednesday, voting to ban smoking at bus stops, in public parks, outdoor eating areas and in service lines.
Approval of the new ordinance came only after it was weakened considerably last week. The council's Public Safety Committee on Sept. 11 voted to remove provisions that would have banned smoking in all new apartment and condominium complexes and would have declared secondhand smoke in all multi-unit housing a "nuisance," making it easier for people to sue their neighbors for puffing nearby.

Still, the final version was powerful enough that it delivered a victory for public-health advocates (and dealt a blow to smokers) when it was approved.

The vote came at about 1:45 a.m. at the end of a marathon council meeting.

"I'm pleased that we've made some progress," said Councilmember Nancy Nadel, the ordinance's strongest supporter. "I hope that in the future, we can look at multi-unit protection for people."

The ordinance will also compel landlords to disclose whether their units are smoke-free, outlaw smoking at child-care centers and on golf courses and ban smoking within 10 feet of bars and nightclubs, which were exempted from a previous city ordinance forcing smokers to light up 25 feet from doors and windows of buildings used by the public.

Voting to approve the ordinance were Councilmembers Nadel, Jean Quan, Patricia Kernighan, Henry Chang Jr. and Council President Ignacio


De La Fuente. Larry Reid and Desley Brooks abstained. Councilmember Jane Brunner was absent.
Reid initially indicated he would support the proposal if the landlord disclosure provision was removed but in the end criticized it, saying it was another law the city would not be able to enforce.

"Do you think OPD is going to respond to a complaint of someone smoking or are they going to respond to someone whose life is in danger?" he asked.

At a Sept. 11 Public Safety Committee meeting, Reid said it would make more sense for city officials to focus on Oakland's homicide problem than on secondhand smoke.

"I'm saying, 'Don't do something just to get your name in the paper. Do something that's real, that's logical, that makes some sense,'" he said Wednesday.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_6958041?source=rss&nclick_check=1

Lambeth Council issues first fines under smoking ban

Lambeth Council issues first fines under smoking ban law
Publisher: Jon Land
Published: 24/09/2007 - 15:52:11 PM Printable version

Lambeth Council issues first
fines under smoking ban law Lambeth Council has handed out its first fines under new laws that ban smoking in public places.

The council has issued £200 fixed penalty notices to two premises after they persistently defied new rules on smoking.

The council has so far focused its efforts on working with businesses and the public to help them understand the new legislation, but will now get tough on the small minority of businesses who flout the law.

In the first case, officers approached Chelsea Motor Company, a mechanics at 137a Wandsworth Road.

The premises had failed to display “no smoking” signs as it is required to by law, and officers found a member of staff smoking on site.

Officers advised the owner of his obligations, and sent the premises a warning letter, but when they returned two weeks later, signs were still not in place and the premises smelled of cigarette smoke.

New Image Barbers, 108c Streatham High Road, has also been issued a fixed penalty notice after it failed to display no-smoking signs.

Officers visited the shop twice to give verbal and written warnings, before issuing the penalty on the third visit.

Councillor Lib Peck, Cabinet member for environment and culture on the council, said: “The law was created to protect people from the damaging effects of smoking in public places and premises owners have a key responsibility to make sure the law is upheld.

“Despite warnings, these businesses failed to take their responsibility seriously.

"The council took a softly-softly approach in the first couple of months of the smoking ban, concentrating our efforts on working with businesses to help them comply with the law, but businesses have now had plenty of time to get used to the legislation and we are now getting tough.”

Despite the fines, the council says the overwhelming majority of businesses in Lambeth are complying with the new laws.
http://www.24dash.com/news/2/27877/index.htm

pubs affected by ban in Reading

Pub hangover
PUB profits are going up in smoke since the smoking ban was introduced.

Many of the town’s independent drinking establishments have reported losses of tens of thousands of pounds since the change in the law introduced on July 1

They say customers are staying at home or going to pubs with gardens.

Paul Foster, landlord of the Brewery Tap in Castle Street, which has put in a planning application for a balcony for smokers, said: “We have had a bad summer in terms of weather, but the smoking ban has caused this hit on profits.

“Lots of people haven’t been out for months – they stay at home with a bottle of wine instead.”

The landlord The Rising Sun in Forbury Road, Iain Hilton, said: “We noticed a significant drop in daytime drinkers and we haven’t had the promised influx of non-smokers that the Government talked about.

“The small businesses suffer the most from the ban because big chain pubs have spare money to cope.

Landlords are also worried by the potential for a further drop in trade as the weather gets colder.

Mr Hilton said: “Smokers are not going to want to stand outside.”

However, it has not been all bad news for the town centre.

Steve Green, general manager of the Allied Arms in St Mary’s Butts, runs one of the few pubs to see a rise in trade.

Mr Green said: “We have had a rise of about 10 per cent profits compared with last year. We are a garden-orientated pub, so more people are coming because they can smoke.

"It is lucky we have the garden space, but everyone is going to take a hit over the winter.”

The Back of Beyond, a Wetherspoon pub in King’s Road, took the step to go non-smoking in March 2005, so landlord Jason Lord knows what other businesses are going through.

He said: “It was quieter in the afternoons to begin with but after about six months people who didn’t smoke started coming out more, and our food sales have increased significantly.

“I’m confident that the pubs will recover from the smoking ban and people will soon be back drinking in them.”
http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/2015/2015429/pub_hangover?rss=yes

Smokers take a stand at the Dog and Partridge

Christopher Booker's notebook
By Christopher Booker, Sunday Telegraph
Last Updated: 1:00am BST 23/09/2007
Smokers take a stand at the Dog and Partridge

Antone wanting an image of one of the deepest cultural divides in Britain today might visit the Dog and Partridge in the Norfolk vlllage of East Wretham. There is still a faint smell of tobacco smoke in the air, there are ashtrays on the bar, and behind it a notice proclaims "Please note that we allow friends to smoke in our house. If this distresses you, then please exercise your freedom of choice to leave our house."

When the smoking ban was introduced on July 1, the pub's landlord, Martin Turver, was so affronted by what he regarded as an interference with civil liberties that he ignored it.

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"Most of our customers are smokers," says Mr Turver. "We believe strongly in freedom of choice, and anyone who dislikes the smell of smoke is free to stay away from our house."

If Mr Turver's response to the ban has typified an approach to the world that for centuries most Englishmen would have regarded as their birthright, a different attitude is typified by the officials of Breckland council.

Three weeks ago, at 10.30 on a Friday evening, a man and a woman entered the bar, accompanied by a uniformed policeman, and, without announcing who they were, went round asking customers for their names and addresses.

One customer, having enjoyed several drinks, questioned what they were doing in fairly robust terms. When Mr Turver politely asked the same question he was, he says, pushed aside.

The following Monday the council issued a press statement that although it had offered the pub "advice, guidance leaflets and smoke-free surgeries… we have evidence that smoking is continuing at the Dog and Partridge".

All other pubs in the area had complied with the legislation, and the "continued non-compliance" of the Dog and Partridge was "unfair to all law-abiding publicans in Breckland".

On Friday Mr Turver was arrested, interviewed at the local police station and charged with three offences. He had failed to prevent a customer being drunk and disorderly. He had obstructed the "licensing officer" in the execution of his duty (at last Mr Turver learned the identity of the official who had gone round his bar asking for names and addresses).

The third charge, in response to a complaint by the official, was that Mr Turver had "assaulted" him (a charge somewhat at odds with Mr Turver's own account of what happened).

No mention of smoking, although by happy coincidence Mr Turver received a letter from the council the same morning saying he had been observed smoking in his bar and imposing a £50 penalty.

Doubtless there are many in these enlightened times who would side with Breckland council and argue that Mr Turver brought trouble on his own head.

There are others, however, who would ask why it was necessary for the officials to behave in a potentially provocative and surreptitious fashion, likely to invite a strong verbal response from at least one customer late on a Friday evening, and why they needed the support of a uniformed policeman.

They might add that, too often these days, it seems, when the political class that now rules our lives chooses to exercise its power, the police see their role as not to hold the ring but merely to act rather too enthusiastically in its support.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/23/nbook123.xml

PC candidates back smokers' rights lobby

PC candidates back smokers' rights lobby
Don Lajoie, Windsor Star
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=49956db0-9136-43a0-9ccd-c88c0f111375
A lobby group for smokers' rights is claiming support from half a dozen provincial Conservative candidates, including one running in Windsor West.

Ontario's tough anti-smoking laws are hypocritical, Lisa Lumley said Thursday at a press conference held in Windsor by MyChoice.ca.

Lumley, a non-smoker who is running against Liberal MPP Sandra Pupatello, noted that while Ontario's casinos are allowed to build shelters for their smokers, bar owners must still send their customers outdoors to satisfy their nicotine craving.


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Font: ****"Don't be hypocritical about this and do for one and not for the other," she said, adding the law has had a devastating effect on the local charity bingo industry.

"Why are nursing homes sending people, who have been smoking for 50 or 60 years, outside?," Lumley said. "Give them some dignity in their latter years."

MyChoice.ca -- a non-profit organization funded by the Canadian Tobacco Manufacturers' Council -- is surveying and recruiting provincial election candidates to their cause in a bid to change Ontario's anti-smoking laws and make "smoker's rights" a campaign issue.

A week into the lobbying effort, president Nancy Daigneault said the organization has already gained the support of about a half dozen Conservative candidates, including MPPs Frank Klees and Toby Barrett.

She said MyChoice.ca has gathered 43,000 letters to send to the premier's office, MPPs and opposition leaders as part of its latest campaign.

The organization commissioned a poll of 507 non-smokers in Ontario. Seventy-one per cent believe the adult decision to smoke should be respected and 83 per cent agree that designated smoking areas should be provided so long as non-smokers' rights are respected, Daigneault said.

A further 80 per cent felt there should be no health care discrimination against those who smoke.

Daigneault said the poll shows non-smokers agree with her group's "fair play" code and its goal of achieving "a co-operative and civil way" to deal with the issue of smoking in public places.

"In an election the government cannot prevent people from having their say," she said. "We have 43,000 letters. In a close election that could be important. We want to know what the candidates think.... We're making it an issue."

Daigneault was joined by local supporters, including Liz Burns of the Highway Tavern and Sheryl Davies of the Arts Council of Windsor.

"At the arts council we feel the depletion of the bingo (revenues)," said Davies. "For local groups it's hard to meet our mandate.... Something needs to be done."

Burns said all hospitality businesses, and not just casinos, should be allowed to have separate smoking areas.

Belmont smoking ban gets grace period

Belmont smoking ban gets grace period
Section on apartments, condos won't take effect for 14 months
By Will Oremus, MEDIANEWS STAFF

The most controversial part of Belmont's historic smoking ordinance won't take effect for more than a year, City Manager Jack Crist said Wednesday.
The bulk of the comprehensive ordinance, including restrictions on smoking in parks and workplaces, will become active 30 days after the law's passage last week.

But the part that prohibits people from smoking in their own apartments and condominiums will come with a

14-month grace period.

When the City Council passed the law 3-2 on Sept. 11, Mayor Coralin Feierbach and others were under the impression the grace period would apply only to a stipulation requiring landlords to write the smoking law into leases.

Upon review, City Attorney Marc Zafferano said that would be unfair to those who own and live in condominiums. So the ordinance is being adjusted to give residents of multiunit hous-

ing complexes time to prepare.

"When I found out, I said, 'Oh, that's good, because that will give people some time to arrange their lives, maybe negotiate with neighbors,'" Feierbach said.

The ordinance will make it illegal to smoke inside or within 20 feet of an entrance to any multistory, multiunit housing complex. It will be enforced only in response to complaints filed by residents, and authorities will try to broker agreements before handing out tickets to offenders.

E-mail Will Oremus at woremus@dailynewsgroup.com.

http://www.insidebayarea.com/sanmateocountytimes/localnews/ci_6957807

Smoking ban hits sales at Pubs’n’Bars

Smoking ban hits sales at Pubs’n’Bars
(21 September 2007 13:48)

Pubs’n’Bars has become the first pub company to admit that July’s English smoking ban could have had a negative impact on financial performance.

The majority of pub operators have cited the poor summer weather as the major factor behind slower trading this year, insisting the smoking ban has had little impact.



But Pubs ‘n’ Bars chairman Seamus Murphy today broke away from the pack, admitting that the smoking ban “has initially had a negative effect on turnover” although he added that “ it is difficult to quantify as last year the weather was significantly better”.

“Turnover has decreased by approximately 4% since the beginning of July,” he said. “However it is impossible to distinguish between the impact of the smoking ban and the wettest summer since records began.”

Before the smoking ban became law the company posted a sales increase in the six months ending 30 June from £7.6m this time last year to £8.8m this year but pre-tax profits fell to £541,819 from £548,005 a year ago.

Pubs’n’Bars owns and operates 98 community pubs (65 managed and 33 tenanted), mostly in the south of England, which it describes as “locals” with “character” with the majority of customers come from the immediate area.

http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2007/09/21/316150/smoking-ban-hits-sales-at-pubsnbars.html

Smoking Is Healthier Than Fascism

Smoking Is Healthier Than Fascism

Sorry for a few cut and paste articles,but these writers can word it far better than me,and sometimes come from a completely different angle-i also think it is important to show that all around the world,people are speaking up against this new "Health Facism." There is so much rubbish and propaganda concerning smoking,health,drinking etc. that I fear as well as losing our own personal freedoms,we could end up with losing all control over our lives and our destiny.

Global warming will at some stage be used as a means to tax air travel-which will again put travel out of reach of most people apart from the wealthy,another freedom lost maybe or saving the planet-i'm not sure these days,all i can do is try to find all sides of the aurguments and make my own mind up-Talking of which,heres the piece,Cheers Desperado for the Link.

Smoking Is Healthier Than Fascism
Smoking Ban Is About Government Control; Believe it or not, the state really doesn't care about your health
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/january2007/300107smokingfascism.htm
Paul Joseph Watson
Prison Planet
Tuesday, January 30, 2007

The regulation of the personal habit of smoking, including new legislative moves in San Francisco to ban cigarettes in private homes, and its enforcement by an eager cadre of state snoops and snitches, represents nothing more than a move on behalf of big brother towards the complete subjugation and shackling of the individual. To this end, smoking is healthier than fascism.

Two new developments today have once again brought this issue into focus and the true agenda behind it needs to be exposed.

In France, a nation once noted as being rich in tobacco connoisseurs, 175,000 "cigarette police" have been given the task of randomly snooping around offices, schools, factories and any other "public spaces" in order to sniff out flouters of a new total ban on smoking.

In San Francisco California, a city ordinance described as "the most stringent tobacco regulation in America" would ban smoking everywhere, including private homes and apartments, sparing only large detached family homes - and if they squeeze this one through expect those homes to be targeted next.

This is not a debate about the dangers of passive smoking, we all know smoking is bad for us and those around us. On an individual level, freedom includes the right to do dumb things and whether others should be subject to our vices comes down to two questions, is fascism more unhealthy for a society than passive smoking and does the government really care about your health?

Dare I suggest that western governments raining down depleted uranium in all corners of the world, spraying chemtrails in our skies, playing Dr. Frankenstein with our food, drugging us into oblivion with psychotropic poison pills, shooting x-rays to expose our naked bodies, and injecting us with toxic vaccines really care about our physical well-being?

Do an elite that openly advocate culling the majority of the world's population really want to put a stop to cancer?

The answer is no, so why the transatlantic obsession to have us stub out our cigarettes?

It's all about control, it's all about letting you know who the bosses are. If the government can regulate personal habits and behavior, what's next? If the state is so concerned about our good health as they would have you believe, why not use the latest scientific advancements to remove that nasty aggressive gene that causes so much unhappiness? Well, you're causing those around you distress and harming their health so why not? Are your political opinions a mental illness? Are they harming society? Perhaps we should ban certain types of "free" speech that is offensive to others.


You see where this is all heading - how long before our wall mounted personal x-ray body scanners are accompanied by special smoke detectors that inform on you to the local Stasi if you dare to light up?

Smoking may be very unhealthy but I'd certainly rather be around a bunch of smokers than a bunch of Fascists.

If you have never smoked and couldn't give a damn if it gets banned then consider the fact that cell phones are emerging as the new kid on the bloc as far as cancer's best friend goes. British expert Professor Lawrie Challis said last week that mobile phones could turn out to be as harmful as cigarettes. How would you react if the government suddenly announced that your Blackberry was off limits because the anti-cell phone lobby got a bill through?

We live in a paranoid world overpopulated by ninnying jellyfish who dare not dip their toe in the water in case there's a law against it, it might upset someone, or it might be bad for their health.



Writer Alan Caruba adds the following, "There are few, if any, people that do not know there is an element of risk involved in the decision to smoke. There is risk involved when any American gets into his car and goes anywhere."
"Driving kills over 40,000 Americans every year. It is the price we pay for the mobility and other benefits cars and vehicles provide. There is, in fact, risk in every human activity including the enjoyment of alcoholic beverages and even the simple act of eating."

Here are some more examples of fascism being unhealthier than smoking.

- In Omaha Nebraska, city police are encouraging residents to call 911 if they see a smoker in a non-smoking area. So when your wife is being raped by an illegal immigrant or a gang banger, be assured that the cops have a good reason for their absence - Joe Bloggs just lit up a Marlboro and he's going to get Tasered.

- Bangor City Council approved a measure that criminalizes smoking in your own car with a child present.

- In Okemos Michigan, an insurance business boss ordered all his employees to take urine tests to determine if they had smoked, even in their own homes. Smokers were warned that they would be fired.

- In New York, Mayor Bloomberg's tobacco stormtroopers raided the offices of Vanity Fair no less than three times, attempting to catch noted journalist Graydon Carter smoking. All they found was an unused clean ash tray but Carter was fined and given a warning nonetheless. Numerous other instances of infamous "ash tray raids" have occurred in New York City.

- In Scotland, social services are drawing up a master list of smokers and warning residents against smoking in their own homes unless they wish to risk being cut off from government services.

Many of the people reading this will have had relatives die directly due to smoking. I am not advocating smoking, I am simply advocating the fact that I'd rather live in a society of smokers than a society of control freak fascists who slavishly seize upon any action of the individual in order to create yet another pretext for creating a Stasi system of informants, locking us all up and building the infrastructure of the prison planet.

Hogan to appeal if found guilty of smoking ban breach

Hogan to appeal if found guilty of smoking ban breach

By Katie Coyne
Bolton licensee won't go down without a fight
Smoke ban rebel Nick Hogan has vowed to appeal if he is found guilty at his impending trial – and compared discrimination against smokers to racism and homophobia.
Hogan’s trial date has been set for November 12, and the licensee has already pleaded not guilty to five counts of failing to prevent people from smoking in his pubs the Swan and Barristers in Bolton.
He also entered the plea not guilty to four counts of obstructing council officers.

Asked whether Hogan would appeal against Bolton magistrates court if it found him guilty, he said “absolutely”.
He said: “Why doesn’t the government ban the product? Because it gives it billions in revenue. If I treated a gay person or a black person in this way I would quite rightly have my arse kicked all over town.”
He added: “Pubs are places where people meet and greet and socialise and to go around to any section or any minority group and say ‘can you please go outside’ is fundamentally wrong.”
Hogan said the government should “compromise” and have “smoking pubs and non-smoking pubs like they do in the majority of pubs in Europe.”
http://www.thepublican.com/story.asp?sectioncode=7&storycode=56988&c=1

SMOKING BAN HITS IMPERIAL

SMOKING BAN HITS IMPERIAL
Imperial Tobacco, which has a major factory in Nottingham, today said cigarette sales had slipped as smokers curbed their habit following the UK-wide smoking ban.

The group, which makes the UK's two top selling cigarette brands - Lambert & Butler and Richmond - improved its UK market share during the last year, but saw volumes decline following the introduction of the ban in Wales, Northern Ireland and England.

Imperial, which is in the process of acquiring Spanish rival Altadis, said it expected this impact to decline over time, reflecting similar trends in Ireland, where the ban has been in place for three years, and Scotland.

Imperial employs around 1,000 people at its landmark cigarette manufacturing plant at Lenton in Nottingham.

The company said its overall performance was in line with its expectations for the year to September 30, with volumes and margins both higher following strong performances from JPS, international brand West and premium brand Davidoff.

Market share continued to grow in Germany, despite a declining tobacco market, while profitability across western Europe improved after it hiked cigarette prices.

Cigarette prices lifted in Europe following the end of a price war in Spain last year, and a more stable pricing environment across the rest of the region.

A good performance from Commonwealth Brands - the fourth largest US tobacco firm and maker of US Gold - helped lift operating margins following its acquisition in February.

The company, which also produces Golden Virginia rolling tobacco, said it continued to look for opportunities to expand its geographic reach. During the last year it launched the Davidoff brand in several new markets.

In July, the group announced its proposed £11 billion acquisition of Gauloises and Fortuna cigarette group Altadis. It said it expected to receive approval from the Spanish regulator in the next few weeks after which the offer will be open for approval from Altadis shareholders.

Imperial's investors gave their backing to the deal in August, while the company has also received anti-trust clearance in the US, although it still needs the go-ahead from European regulators.

If the deal is successful it will consolidate its position as the world's fourth largest tobacco group, strengthening its position in Germany, France and Italy, while enabling it to close the gap on its three biggest rivals ? Philip Morris, British American Tobacco and Japan Tobacco.

Imperial demerged from Hanson in 1996 and listed on the London stock market as a FTSE 100 company. Its products are sold in more than 130 countries worldwide. It employs around 14,500 staff and operates 32 manufacturing sites around the world.

http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/

Santa Cruz lifts smoking ban for medical marijuana festival

Santa Cruz lifts smoking ban for medical marijuana festival
The Associated Press
Article Launched: 09/19/2007 07:06:53 AM PDT


SANTA CRUZ, Calif.—The city park smoking ban is being suspended temporarily so medical pot patients can light up during next week's Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana annual festival.
The smoking ban, in effect for two years, will be lifted from noon to 5 p.m. at the Sept. 29 San Lorenzo Park event, city leaders said.

"I think there's a solid basis for supporting this group. They're pretty selfless folks. It's not like they're out there profiting off other people's medical needs," Councilman Mike Rotkin said.

Rotkin and Mayor Emily Reilly co-authored the resolution to lift the smoking ban, which was unanimously approved by the City Council.

Wo/Men's Alliance for Medical Marijuana is a 200-member cooperative started in 1993 for seriously ill medical marijuana patients to grow and share pot to ease various symptoms.

The alliance has held a festival for 14 years to raise awareness and funds for medical marijuana issues and celebrate the community's support for the cooperative.

The marijuana smoking takes place inside a tent.
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_6936833?nclick_check=1

Don't treat patients until they kick habit: top doctor

Don't treat patients until they kick habit: top doctor
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/health/article2974173.ece
By Claire Regan

A leading Ulster cardiologist sparked controversy today by saying that smokers should not receive certain treatments on the NHS, including a heart by-pass, if they refuse to kick the habit beforehand.


Dr Mahendra Varma, a consultant at the Erne Hospital in Enniskillen, spoke of his frustration at the heavy pressure smoking-related illnesses, such as stroke and heart disease, place on the province's cash-strapped health service.

He said that smokers should have to give up their addiction at least three to six months before undergoing a major procedure, to increase the chances of a good recovery afterwards.

The past president of the Irish Cardiac Society added, however, that he had never come across a smoker in need of such treatment who did not want to give up.

"There is a significant waiting list for cardiac by-pass operations - at least six months which is not good enough," he said.

" Operations such as this are more difficult to perform on people who smoke. They are more prone to infections, they take much longer to recover, they have to spend longer in ICU afterwards and they have a higher mortality rate. The chance of post-surgery complication is very high.

" We do not live in a Utopian society, the Health Service does not have a lot of money."

Dr Varma, who is vice-president of the Northern Ireland Chest Heart and Stroke Association (NICHSA), stressed that he was not saying that anybody should be denied treatment.

"Smokers must give up cigarettes three to six months before an operation such as a by-pass if they are to have a good chance of recovery. There is good help available, such as at the smoking cessation clinic we have at the Erne, but it lies in the hands of the individual as well," he added.

Highlighting the pressure smoking-related illnesses place on the health service, Dr Varma said eight people die from one here every day.

Referring to UK-wide levels, he said: "It is the equivalent of a jumbo jet crashing every day at Heathrow airport with everyone on board dying. If that was happening, the Government would be up in arms. There would be a hue and cry."

Neil Rafferty, a spokesman for pro-smoking group Forest, said he was " disgusted" by the comments. "Smokers pay their taxes and national insurance the same as everybody else, they deserve the same NHS treatment whether they continue to smoke or not," he said.

"Where do you draw the line? Should this also apply to people with a bad diet? Or should a doctor refuse to treat a driver who has been seriously injured in a car accident because they were speeding? Once you start to apply thinking like this, there are very few patients who would be entitled to treatment."

The debate over healthcare for smokers comes after stroke sufferers and their carers presented Health Minister Michael McGimpsey with a report highlighting their dissatisfaction with NHS services for sufferers.

Smoke ban hits wet sales in bars

Smoke ban hits wet sales in bars
19 September, 2007
http://www.thepublican.com/story.asp?sectioncode=7&storycode=56979
By James Wilmore

Theme survey shows a third of style bars reporting a drop in sales

Wet sales have fallen in a third of style bars since the smoking ban, a survey by The Publican’s sister magazine Theme has revealed.

The worrying figures – one of the biggest surveys since the ban took effect – show the bar sector is suffering heavily under the legislation, while the story could be even worse for pubs.

More than 1,000 representatives from the bar sector responded to Theme’s survey conducted six weeks after the ban. Twenty three per cent said wet sales were down between one and 15 per cent.

Six per cent said wet sales had slid between 15 and 25 per cent, while four per cent revealed wet sales had dropped off more than a quarter.

Nearly a third described the ban as having a minor negative impact on their business and a further six per cent said it had had a major negative impact. A fifth said they believed the post-ban trading environment was a long-term trend.

Mark Brumby, an analyst at Blue Oar Securities, said the findings were worse than his industry-wide forecast – which included pubs – of a drop in revenue of between three and five per cent.


Prior to the ban he predicted style bars would perform better than traditional pubs, as customers choose to go to these types of venues for different reasons than pubs. “Customers have stayed away,” he said. “It’s bad rather than good and that’s a fact.”

However, he warned the short term could have skewed the results – and forecast that the industry would take 18 months to recover from a post-ban dip in revenues of three per cent.


The report also revealed that bartenders feel exploited and believe they could be better off working in a junior position in a pub than taking on more responsibility, the Theme Industry report has revealed.

More than half of bar and restaurant workers earn less than £25,000 per year, the survey also showed.

Twelve per cent earn between £12,000 and £15,000, 18 per cent take home between £16,000 and £20,000 and 21 per cent earn between £21,000 and £25,000.

Dying patients return home to smoke

Dying patients return home to smoke

Dying patients spending their final days in a hospice have decided to return home after being banned from smoking.

When public smoking was banned in July, hospices had the option to retain some smoking bedrooms, reports the York Press.

But St Leonard's Hospice, in Tadcaster Road, York, opted to enforce the blanket ban - prompting a number of patients to return home.

Doctors and campaigners said they were outraged by the decision and called for the hospice's trustees to rethink the policy.

Dr Brian McGregor, vice chairman of the York Local Medical Committee, said: "The physician in me would never want to encourage smoking, but for somebody for whom medicine has failed, I can't see the logic in banning it.

"They are bed-bound, they are not able to enjoy food and drink and smoking is one of the few pleasures they have left.

"Smoking will not make any impact on their health now and I don't think we should be making them more unhappy by banning it."

But a spokesman for St Leonard's Hospice said the hospice had decided to impose the ban following lengthy consultations with staff, patients, visitors, service users and external organisations.

He said: "The decision was not made lightly but, as a healthcare organisation, we felt it appropriate to embrace the legislation.

"We are confident that our staff, patients and visitors will appreciate the change and will support us in its implementation."

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_2514163.html?menu=news.quirkies

Smoking break ban at supermarkets

Smoking break ban at supermarkets
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4829220.stm
Morrisons staff will not be allowed to smoke during night-shifts
Night workers at a supermarket chain will be forced to go without a cigarette during 10-hour shifts once the smoking ban comes into force.
Staff at Morrisons stores, which bans staff leaving its premises during the night for safety reasons, will have nowhere to smoke after Sunday.

Currently there is a smoking room but this will be off limits once the Scottish Executive's ban starts.

The company said they would help their workers to quit the habit.

A Morrison spokeswoman said they would offer their staff free nicotine patches as well as other products.

She said: "Morrisons is committed to supporting colleagues who wish to give up smoking, and each store will be provided with information about the services, advice and support available.

"In addition, the company has agreed to further support those nightshift workers who wish to give up smoking by providing free cessation aids.

"For safety and security reasons our night staff have to remain within our premises during the hours when the store is closed. They must also obey the new legal requirement not to smoke inside our premises."

She added that no terms and conditions of employment were affected by the new legislation.

Day staff will be allowed to leave the stores during their breaks to smoke.

VALIANT EFFORTS TO STOP FANS SMOKING

VALIANT EFFORTS TO STOP FANS SMOKING
http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk
Port Vale are continuing to enforce the national smoking ban after fans were caught lighting up at Vale Park.Stewards have intervened when supporters have been spotted smoking and have not suffered the same backlash as their counterparts at the Britannia Stadium

But Vale chairman Bill Bratt said he had sympathy with his Potteries rivals who have been forced to stop making the ban stick because of abuse from supporters who insisting on lighting up in the toilets.

And leading Vale fans fear crowds at Vale Park are down because some smokers were staying away from games.



Mr Bratt said: "We are still doing all we can to enforce the ban. This is national legislation so we have no choice but to do that.

"We can't just give up on it - but Stoke do attract larger gates so I feel sorry for their circumstances."

Mr Bratt admitted that some fans had tried to light up in the toilets but had agreed to put out their cigarettes when approached by ground stewards.

"I think everyone here has been sensible about it," he said. If people do stop smoking when asked that is the end of the matter and we don't eject them from the ground but I can see it could be a problem if anyone refused.

"Thankfully we are not having the difficulties Stoke seem to be facing. One of the problems is that the legislation is still so new but I'm sure things will settle down as it gets more established.

"Eventually it will go the same way as air travel. No-one ever thinks of lighting up on a plane anymore."

Fans also felt that despite some problems, scenes of intimidation and abuse at the Britannia Stadium had not been copied at Vale.

Vale statistician and life-long fan Phil Sherwin said: "I have seen some people having a quick drag outside the toilets in the Railway Paddock but when asked by the stewards they have stopped.

"With the state of some toilets at the Vale, I can't understand even the most committed smoker wanting to spend more than a few seconds there for a fag anyway."

Andy McCormack, editor of Vale fanzine Derek, I'm Gutted!!!, said: "I too have seen people having a crafty one in the Railway Stand and some fans have stopped coming to games because they are not allowed to smoke anymore.

"At Bournemouth they get round it by opening the gates at half-time for people to nip outside for a fag.

"The problem with doing that at the Vale is that they might not come back in if it was a poor game."

Meanwhile Stoke City stadium safety manager John Alcock has hit out at the Government for not considering how football clubs would enforce the new law.

He said: "If you run a pub or club it's easy to stop serving someone or to chuck them out. But we've got 15,000 football fans here.

"I have had a lot of complaints and I am struggling to give them proper answers.

"It is an ill thought-out law. I have contacted virtually every club in the country and they are all having a nightmare.

"I would just ask the fans to help out the club and pack it in just for a couple of hours, but it seems they are not willing to do that."

Are clubs right to uphold the smoking ban at sports stadia?

INTERQUITTY

INTERQUITTY
Passengers may be allowed to smoke on rail platforms again after rethink
By James Harper
http://www.sundaymirror.co.uk/news/sunday/2007/09/16/interquitty-98487-19797365/
Smoking may be allowed on rail stations again under a rethink by Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly.

Passengers have inundated her office with complaints that the ban is ridiculous in open air non-enclosed areas.

Miss Kelly has told officials to draw up plans for limited smoking zones on platforms provided there is no nuisance to fellow rail-users.

The move has been backed by former Health Secretary John Reid, whose moderate plan to curb smoking in public places was scrapped after he was moved in a Cabinet reshuffle.

He said: "I have always favoured a degree of choice for adults and have always thought we have to be careful not to ban smoking everywhere outside the home, which could mean more smoking at home, which is far more dangerous for children."

But the move will be resisted by current Health Secretary Alan Johnson and the issue is expected to cause a Cabinet split. One factor behind the review is a slump in business for station cafes with outside tables since the July 1 ban.

Both Miss Kelly and Network Rail chief John Armitt have had letters from MPs urging designated smoking areas in unenclosed station areas - as applies in other public places.

One, Blyth Valley MP Ronnie Campbell, said: "I accept the ban should apply on enclosed stations. But it is unnecessary on stations which are open."

But a Department of Health spokesman said: "Our private polls show the majority oppose any weakening of the ban."

And Network Rail continues to support the ban and says it "puts the interests of all customers first".

news@sundaymirror.co.uk

Smoker refused operation on broken ankle

Smoker refused operation on broken ankle
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/09/14/nsmoker114.xml
A smoker is facing years of pain after an NHS hospital refused to set his broken ankle unless he gives up cigarettes.

John Nuttall, 57, needs the operation to fix the ankle he broke in three places two years ago and which was not healed by a plaster cast.

Doctors at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro have refused to operate to rebuild the ankle because they say Mr Nuttall's heavy smoking would reduce the chance of a full recovery.

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They have told him to give up smoking before they operate but the retired builder has been unable to break his habit.

Mr Nuttall says he is in constant pain from the grating of the broken bones against each other and has been prescribed daily doses of morphine.

He refused surgery when he first injured the ankle in a fall in 2005 because he was worried about catching MRSA in hospital. When he went back a few weeks later and the ankle had not set he said he was told he would have to give up smoking before doctors could operate.

Mr Nuttall, from Newlyn, west Cornwall, said: "I have begged them to operate but they won't. I have tried my hardest to give up smoking but I can't.

"I want to warn other smokers. We have paid our National Insurance stamps all our lives and now we are being shut out of the NHS."

A spokesman for the hospital trust said: "Smoking has a very big influence on the outcome of this type of surgery and the healing process would be hindered significantly."

Protesters rally against smoking ban

Protesters rally against smoking ban
Students say their side of issue needs to be heard as well
Dillon Kimmel
http://media.www.bsudailynews.com/media/storage/paper849/news/2007/09/17/News/Protesters.Rally.Against.Smoking.Ban-2971625.shtml
In response to the proposed smoking ban, Ball State University students protested throughout the day Friday on the corner of McKinley and Riverside avenues.

About 15 students were in attendance and said they began demonstrating about 8 a.m. and were still protesting at 4 p.m.

Sophomore hospitality major Meagon Lefkakis said the students were not protesting the recent Student Government Association poll in which more than 4,000 of the 6,629 students who participated agreed with the proposed smoking ban.

"[The SGA poll] was a very good idea, but it shouldn't be an issue at all." Lefkakis said. "You should have your choice if you want to smoke and if you don't want to smoke."

Sophomore criminal justice major Daniel Polikoff said he hopes last Friday's demonstration "stirs up awareness about the importance of the issue."

"It's about civil liberties," Polikoff said. "The fewer number need to be heard."

Sophomore advertising major Nick Armogida said it is imperative students who oppose the ban make sure their voice is heard, regardless of whether they smoke.

"We're not going to take this sitting down," Armogida said. "Last year, a lot of people were out here in support of the ban, but not many were here against it. We want to get the word out before it goes too far."

Lefkakis said the current rule prohibiting smoking within 30 feet of campus buildings should be followed, but she said that would change if the smoking ban is passed.

"I personally wouldn't listen to it," she said. "Students are going to smoke more then because it's cool because you're not supposed to. I don't know if it has to do with the proposed ban, but I've seen a lot more people smoking lately."

Armogida said the smoking ban would inhibit the social lives of many smokers on campus.

"You're getting rid of a lot of social interaction among people," he said. "For some people, the only thing that calms them down is a cigarette."

Armogida said the proposed smoking ban also would only add to the existing problem of smokers being looked at like "the scum of the earth."

"The campus already told us they don't want us here," he said. "We pay the school to educate, not regulate."

Lefkakis said some of the same students who demonstrated on Friday also might demonstrate on Sept. 21 at the same location.

HARRY KEEPS ON SMOKING

HARRY KEEPS ON SMOKING
http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/19218
By Adam Helliker
Every smoker in England has had to change their habits since the smoking ban came into force in July with one notable exception, who evidently feels he is above the law.

Step forward Prince Harry, third in line to the throne, who continues to puff away in public as if there is no tomorrow.

I’m told that at a party last week to celebrate a close friend’s 21st birthday at HRH’s favourite West End nightclub – the Polynesian-themed Mahiki – the Prince indulged his passion for Marlboro Lights on more than one occasion.

Prince Harry was sitting next to the bar, in full view of the barmen and security and chain-smoked all night
Fellow Reveller

Says a fellow ruddy-faced reveller: “Prince Harry was sitting next to the bar, in full view of the barmen and security and chain-smoked all night. No one dreamed of saying anything to him and, if anything, it encouraged a couple of friends who were with him at the party to follow suit.”

The Prince, who celebrated his 23rd birthday yesterday – and since he became an officer in the Blues and Royals is known as “Cornet Wales” – took up the habit as a 15-year-old pupil at Eton and now smokes at least 20 cigarettes a day.

Smoking ban at home could come in

Smoking ban at home could come in futureSep 17 2007
http://icwales.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0200wales/tm_headline=smoking-ban-at-home-could-come-in-future
by Rhodri Clark, Western Mail

PARENTS could be banned from smoking in their homes to protect their children’s health, following the success of the smoking ban in public places, legal experts have claimed.

But such a ban may not happen for many years, because society is not yet ready for such a draconian step, they admit.

One legal option would rest on the human rights of children, whose health is damaged more by passive smoking than adults’.

However, human rights rulings usually balance the rights of two sets of people, and one legal expert said judges would currently come down in favour of an adult’s right to smoke in their home rather than the child’s right to breathe clean air.

The ban on smoking in public places across Britain appears to have improved health already.

On Monday it emerged that heart-attack admissions to Scottish hospitals had dropped 17% in the first year of Scotland’s smoking ban.


Researchers also said a national evaluation found a 39% reduction in secondhand smoke exposure in 11-year-olds and in adult non-smokers.


There was no evidence yet of smoking shifting from public places into homes.


But the British Medical Association says five million children in the UK are exposed to secondhand smoke in their homes. Those children are at higher risk of:


Cot death;


Asthma attacks;


Respiratory symptoms;


Impaired breathing, as children and adults;


Middle-ear disease, which can be fatal.


They may also be at greater risk than other children of becoming asthmatic in the first place and of developing childhood cancer.


Scottish research shows that even education is impaired, since children who live with smokers are 44% to 77% more likely to miss school than other children.


Prof Nigel Lowe, deputy head of Cardiff Law School, said smoking in homes could be addressed through smaller steps, such as smoke-free homes being a condition of fostering and adoption.


“The big leap will have to wait until the little leaps have been made,” said Prof Lowe, an expert in child law.


“Who would have predicted 20 or 30 years ago that we couldn’t smoke on trains or planes or in public places?


“The next logical step would be to protect the children, but I think we’re quite a long way from that.


“I could see that it could happen. No current judge, I would predict, in England or Wales would be prepared to make that huge jump yet. But I wouldn’t rule it out forever.


“The thing about human rights which always gets us into problem areas is that you’ve always got to balance it against other people’s rights.”


While some might argue that a child’s rights were infringed by smoking in the home, others would argue that adults have the right to respect for their private family lives. The ban on smoking in public places was premised on workers’ rights to a smoke-free workplace. Workers can choose their workplace, while children do not choose their parents or homes.


But Prof Lowe said, “There’s a material difference between what you do in your own house and what you do outside.”


Wendy Hopkins, a specialist family lawyer in South Wales, said it was premature for family law to proscribe smoking in the home.


“Those are areas in which family law could go. There’s no doubt that children living in a household where there’s a heavy smoker are much more at risk.”


If one parent smoked, the family courts might take that into account when deciding on who had custody of children, she added.


Dr Tony Calland, who chairs the BMA’s Welsh council, said the arguments against smoking in children’s homes were as strong as those against smoking in workplaces, but he did not believe further legislation should be passed.


“It’s the principle that’s the important thing – that you shouldn’t poison anyone, including your own children.


“What will happen in time, and I think is already happening, is that smoking is becoming socially unacceptable.


“That will become the driver. It’s a social evolution process, rather than being told by the Government or police or BMA that you mustn’t smoke.”

Smoking ban in clubs hits pokies revenue

Smoking ban in clubs hits pokies revenue
http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=296341
A severe drop in poker machine revenue blamed on new anti-smoking laws has forced clubs across NSW to slash grants to community groups.

The Sunday Telegraph newspaper says club grants are likely to be cut by hundreds of thousands of dollars in some cases, causing hardship for small sports teams and community organisations.

Figures obtained by the paper reveal that NSW clubs have suffered a fall in gaming revenue of about 8.2 per cent since the indoor smoking ban began on July 2.

The figures, based on a Clubs NSW survey in August of 732 venues across the state, reveal that this has contributed to an overall downturn in revenue of about 7.7 per cent.




Clubs NSW CEO David Costello told the paper the smoking ban is one of the greatest challenges the state's 1,400 clubs have ever faced.

"In an effort to survive the significant financial hit, many clubs have invested in facilities such as fitness centres, fine dining type restaurants, conference centres and aged care," he said.

"The challenge for clubs is surviving long enough for these new developments to generate revenues (that will) cover the shrinking gaming revenue."

Mr Costello said the slump in gaming profits means the clubs industry stands to lose up to an estimated $320 million over the next 12 months.

Seven clubs in NSW have closed already this year, with at least 50 in administration, he said.

The Extreme Selfishness of Antismokers

The Extreme Selfishness of Antismokers - Editorial Posted by: "Garnet Dawn"
Garnet Dawn - The Smoker's Club, Inc. - Midwest Regional Director

8th July 2007

"Oh smokers are so selfish!" is a common cliché - and one of many -
trotted out regularly by the anti-smoker lobby. However, who is truly selfish, the smokers or the anti-smokers?

The first thing to consider is the significant element or retroactive judgment for it is as though society at large always had the same view of smoking which it has not. In 1947, for example, smoking was considered very fashionable and many non-smokers claimed to like the smell. Even up until the 1970s and 80s many women used to say they liked the smell of a man who smoked a pipe or cigar and the pipe smoking man was usually presented as being more manly than the ordinary run of the mill cigarette lover. Moreover, and importantly, until the 1980s smoking was considered normal and many non-smokers would have ashtrays on hand for smoking guests and some even bought their own cigarettes to offer them too.

Subsequently, when something is not considered offensive, engaging in it and particularly after the polite request: "mind if I smoke" could not be, and was not, considered selfish. It was only as smoking became unfashionable and the anti-smoker lobby's campaigns and propaganda acquired momentum that the notion that smokers were selfish took hold and accelerated in popularity.

As this change unfolded smokers gradually began to find themselves being edged out of public venues. For example and in working environments, first they were relegated to smoking rooms and then outside. Many smokers in the UK took this in good part and were willing to consider their colleagues' comfort up until fairly
recently – about 2003 onwards - when the anti-smoker activists stepped up their campaigns to have smoking banned from all public places.

An interesting aspect of this is that now that people have been banned from smoking in pubs, clubs, bars, restaurants and cafés, there is the complaint that smokers are making life difficult by creating a curtain of smoke at the entrances to these establishments so inflicting their "vile and filthy habit upon others."

Should smokers worry about this? The answer is plainly "no" for the problem is not of their choice or of their making. The answer to the anti-smokers in this context should obviously be: "you created this problem now live with it," and there should be no remorse of hesitation in providing that response for the anti-smoker lobby has indeed become overbearingly selfish. In other words, if it is true that smokers were the selfish ones the boot is now most definitely on the other foot.

However, the anti-smokers' response to this perceived problem is to demand that smokers be banned from the entrances of pubs and clubs and even the beer gardens. How many landlords have now thrown up their hands in despair and annoyance as anti-smoker zealots go out of their way to move amongst the smokers in outside areas whilst making those pathetic little coughing noises and loud rude remarks about "how awful all this tobacco smoke is." How many times have we heard accounts from friends about how, when sitting peacefully smoking on some outside café patio where there are lots of empty tables, a couple have deliberately made their way to the next table and started to complain and "ercoff, ercoff, ercoff."

Selfish ignoramuses like these should be ignored and treated with the contempt they deserve but if only the catalogue of anti-smoker sins ended there. Unfortunately, the anti-smoker has become the supreme selfish egotist with little regard or concern for the momentous damage that they inflict upon others. So let's consider some of that damage.

For example, the Irish smoking ban is usually touted as an enormous success when in fact it is a fiasco. To date, and according the LVA some 1,200 pubs have closed since the ban's inception. When the figure reached 1,000 in about March of this year even The Times commented upon it. The LVA also estimates some 25,000 jobs lost because of the ban. True, there are pubs that have been enormously successful, but many survive too by providing outside areas some of
which have been described as being even more luxurious than the facilities available inside. Add to that the secret back rooms, smokeasies and lock-ins all of which are popular.

In addition, there have been numerous press reports about the growth of a rampant black market in cigarettes in Ireland plus Gallaghers have announced increased profits in cigarette sales for two years running. Similarly, R.J. Carroll also announced profits up for last year. Even Luke Clancy of ASH Ireland admits that the number of smokers has gone back up to 1% below what it was before the ban, but a number of commentators have stated that it may be even higher than
the pre ban figure due to the fact that the Irish government is unable to track such matters accurately any more as it cannot properly estimate the extent of black market buyers.

The negative effect of smoking bans are not confined to Ireland either, for Scotland already reports over two hundred pubs and fifteen bingo halls closed since its ban. In fact, the pattern of damage appears the same worldwide with enormous losses sustained by the hospitality industry plus clubs (from working mens' to night clubs) bingo halls and bowling allies and also by small local
charities dependent upon the goodwill of these establishments in providing funds. Add to this the job losses and the economic and social costs run in to billions. Still, the anti-smoker lobby is unconcerned and presses on ruthlessly to pursue its goal of a smoke free world – whilst completely ignoring the fact that smoking rates
frequently go up after bans and not down - and demands now that smokers be denied the benefits of health treatment despite the fact that smokers, through taxes levied directly upon the sales of cigarettes and corporation tax levied upon the profits of the tobacco companies, probably contribute more to any economy than any other social group paying their medical care costs many times over thereby benefiting lots of non-smokers as well.

A particularly worrisome and very recent instance of anti-smoker evil pertains to Senators Edward Kennedy and Orrin Hatch. These two allegedly keen anti-smoker gentlemen have announced a proposal to increase the federal cigarette excise tax from thirty-nine cents to one dollar per pack in order to fund the State Children's Health Insurance (S-Chip) programme which is up for reauthorisation this year. Whilst on the surface it may appear that this is a great idea that serves two purposes - reducing smoking and providing revenues to fund health insurance for children - a closer examination reveals that the idea is severely flawed and unacceptable from a public health perspective.

Essentially, what the proposal does is make the coverage of children's health care dependent upon the continued sale of cigarettes. In other words, it asks smokers to take on the responsibility of funding children's health care and it depends on
smokers continuing to smoke in order to continue the funding whilst, at the same time, they continue to be vilified by Kennedy and Hatch and other individuals and public bodies. In addition, it greatly reduces any incentive for the federal government to take any action that might substantially reduce smoking rates and therefore cigarette tax revenues.

The tax is an unfair one because it places the burden of funding children's health care entirely on smokers, yet the benefits of the tax do not accrue to smokers at all.

Furthermore, many states in America are now dependent on extra tax on smokers to balance their state budgets. This being the case, the continued vilification of a group of people upon whom so many depend is hypocrisy of the first rank and it carries with it the concept that smokers are a sub class to be used and bled and who are expendable.

Upon whom can we pace the blame for this outlook? There is no other answer except that the blame lies squarely with the anti-smoker lobby. It is corrupt and immoral and its sheer unregulated selfishness is now boundless. So next time some anti-smoker zealot has the gall to say that you, a smoker, are selfish, laugh at them and point out a few home truths. If anybody stinks and creates problems, they do!

Smoke rebel’s day in court

Smoke rebel’s day in court
http://www.theboltonnews.co.uk
REBEL landlord Nick Hogan has appeared before Bolton magistrates to face charges of defying the smoking ban.

Mr Hogan pleaded not guilty to five counts of failing to prevent people from smoking in his pubs and four of obstructing council officers.

The licensee of The Swan and Barristers pubs in Bolton town centre will now face a trial, which will start on November 12.

He said: "I have entered a not guilty plea because I'm not committing any criminal offences. I'm not doing anything wrong.

"We inform everyone who comes into The Swan and Barristers that it is illegal to smoke in our premises."

If Mr Hogan is found guilty, he could face a fine of £16,500 - £2,500 for each of the smoking offences and £1,000 on the obstruction charges.

Councils push to stamp out outdoor smoking

Councils push to stamp out outdoor smoking
Email Print Normal font Large font Dee Zernelis and Sarah Infante enjoy an outdoor cigarette on Campbell Parade in Bondi.
Photo: Steven Siewert
Advertisement
AdvertisementSunanda Creagh Urban Affairs Reporter
September 14, 2007

SMOKING outside cafes, at taxi ranks and outdoor plazas could be banned under a controversial policy to be considered by all NSW councils.

Manly Council will call on all councils to crack down on outdoor smoking when the Local Government and Shires Association meets in November for its annual conference.

The council says smokers should be fined for lighting up within 10 metres of all children's playground equipment, at all playing fields and stadiums, in al-fresco dining areas on council land, in council pedestrian malls, and at all beaches, parks, covered bus stops and taxi ranks.

"We are seeking the support of other councils to come on board on what we see as an important public health initiative," said Manly's Mayor, Peter Macdonald, whose council was the first to ban smoking on beaches and has just extended outdoor smoking bans.

"It's only the minority who are disadvantaged, and all our experience is that the smokers are compliant and understand that the vast majority of people don't smoke," he said. "Smokers have become marginalised. This is mainstream."

If adopted, the wide-reaching plan would become the official policy of the association, which would encourage all member councils to implement the bans.

Its president, Genia McCaffery, said she expected the motion to be hotly debated.

"The al-fresco dining one will be particularly contentious, I think," said Cr McCaffery, who is also the Mayor of North Sydney. "When we looked at it in North Sydney, it turned out to be fairly ridiculous because it meant you could ban people smoking at a table but they could stand next to the table and smoke there."

Cr McCaffery said any new crackdowns should be carefully considered. "It [tobacco] is a legal substance," she said. "Are we going to ban people walking down the street smoking? It may get to that point. If [this policy] is what communities want, we should be going that way, but I think you should be careful."

The NSW Cancer Council's director of health strategies, Anita Tang, said smoking should be banned in almost all public places.

"In an ideal situation … the policy should be you can't smoke anywhere except in designated outdoor areas. It turns the onus around," she said. "But … in terms of the things councils can do, this is a pretty comprehensive list."

Rhett Hurvitz, a Bondi smoker, said the proposed policy was ridiculous. "I like to relax, smoke a cigarette when I am having a coffee," he said. "If there are babies around or someone is eating food, you would move away, but I don't see why it should be banned."

Running out of puff room

1998 Smoking is banned in the Sydney Cricket Ground and the Sydney Football Stadium, now Aussie Stadium.

2000 Just before the Olympic Games, smoking is banned in restaurants and cafes.

2001 Smoking is banned in dining areas in pubs and clubs.

2003 NSW Government starts gradual restriction of smoking inside pubs.

2005 Smoking in pubs is restricted to one room, which must not make up more than 25 per cent of the premises. Manly and Waverley councils ban smoking on beaches. Other councils soon ban it near sporting fields, and Manly bans it in parks.

2006 Fairfield Council joins Hawkesbury, Pittwater, Baulkham Hills and Liverpool councils in banning smoking near sports fields. Fairfield extends ban to adjacent green spaces, car parks and within 10 metres of play equipment in public parks. Mosman Council bans it in bus shelters, parks and council land.

2007 On July 2, smoking is banned outright inside enclosed areas of pubs and clubs, with one big loophole: you can still smoke in areas with 25 per cent of the room and 10 per cent of the ceiling and wall area open to the outdoors. And you can still light up in the high-rollers' room in Star City casino.
http://www.smh.com.au/

SMOKED OUT

SMOKED OUT
Published on 14/09/2007
http://www.newsandstar.co.uk/news/viewarticle.aspx?id=542835


A ONCE popular Carlisle pub which has closed without warning is thought to be the first in the county to fall victim to the national smoking ban.

Licensee Angelique West said this week that the ban had halved the trade at the Milbourne Arms, which has long been known in Carlisle as a smoker-friendly pub.

The ban was introduced on July as part of a national strategy to combat the devastating health effects of smoking, which is a key catalyst in several killer illnesses, including cancer and heart disease.

The ban has made it illegal across the country for any person to smoke in an enclosed public space, including bars and restaurants.

Some landlords feared the move would drive away smoking customers, while others welcomed the move, saying it would make pubs and restaurants more attractive, especially for families.

Mrs West said: “The Milbourne Arms was always known as a smokers’ local, and everybody who went there smoked.

“But since the ban came into effect the trade has halved. People just didn’t want to go outside to smoke. I think it started about a month before the ban came into force.

“We had a trickle of new customers, but basically the pub has not been able to recover.”

The pub had already come back from the Carlisle flood of two years ago, when it became a refuge for locals whose homes were wrecked.

Affected by the flooding itself, the pub had to close for eight months which saw it undergo a major revamp.

Mrs West is now concentrating on running the nearby Knight Inn, where she is also licensee, said: “The smoking ban has also had an impact on this pub, but I want to dispel a rumour that is going round that I am going bankrupt.

“I am not.

“But I have no idea what will happen now to the Milbourne Arms.

“I’d like to see it reopen and become a thriving pub again, but to be honest I think that it’s had its day.”

Pubs 'could go bust' due to smoking ban claim

Pubs 'could go bust' due to smoking ban claim
By Phil Hill
http://www.somersetcountygazette.co.uk
Carl Ashley contemplates the smoking ban

A LANDLORD claims some pubs could go bust because of the smoking ban.

Carl Ashley, of Taunton's Westgate Inn, says the atmosphere in his pub has changed and business is down since the ban on lighting up in public places in England from July 1.

"The pub's been completely changed. It could put me out of business," said father-of-three Mr Ashley.

"The atmosphere with the football and bands has changed - people are staying outside. Even non-smokers are joining them.

"I spent £6,000 for a smokers' shelter in the beer garden.

"But the pub is a lot quieter and business has declined.

"If it carries on, we're in danger of losing our livelihood."

abused smoker or landlord?

I know I have and its getting right on my nerves.
Your standing outside your pub,the pub you have used for years,dodging the showers,coat done up against the wind and rain,and some smart alec comes out/into the pub and has to make a wise crack.
Sometimes its someone you have known for years,but they all have to have their say.

Is it a stranger though? Is it someone who has not been in the pub?

Well my friends,help may be at hand:
Now that the government has seen fit to effectively villianise smokers, it seems to have become perfectly acceptable for anti’s to say or do what they like to us.

Most people would think the legislation covering Hate Crime only pertains to race, colour, ethnic origin, nationality or national origins, religion, Gender or gender identity, sexual orination and disability. However, The Home Office defines hate crime as:

Any incident, which constitutes a criminal offence, which is perceived by the victim or any other person as being motivated by prejudice or hate.

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) defines hate crime as:

A crime where the perpetrator's prejudice against any identifiable group of people is a factor in determining who is victimised".

Hate crime can take many forms including:

· physical attacks – such as physical assault, damage to property, offensive graffiti, neighbour disputes and arson
· threat of attack – including offensive letters, abusive or obscene telephone calls, groups hanging around to intimidate and unfounded, malicious complaints
· verbal abuse or insults - offensive leaflets and posters, abusive gestures, dumping of rubbish outside homes or through letterboxes, and bullying at school or in the workplace.

You may have read the many articles about noise and litter and complaints from neighbours now 14 million smokers have been thrown on the streets-if your a landlord,maybe your neighbours are turning on you? If we don't fight the ban-there will be exclusion zones around pubs but you may have the law on your side:

If there are any publicans out there who have been harrassed by neighbours as a direct result of the smoking ban, I would take note of the bit that says: “Unfounded, malicious complaints”. Keep a diary of all encounters with troublesome neighbours to include, date, time, and what was said. Always, always, always remain calm cool and collected, do not give in to any “baiting”.

The laws is there to protect us-use it.

More than 6,000 U.S. Employers Refuse to Hire Smokers

More than 6,000 U.S. Employers Refuse to Hire Smokers
According to a recent article in the Daytona Beach News-Journal, at least 6,000 U.S. employers refuse to hire smokers, and the number may be even higher than that.

The article states that "in recent years a growing number of firms nationwide have decided that allowing employees to smoke only outdoors is not enough. At least 6,000 employers refuse to hire smokers, according to the National Workrights Institute, an affiliate of the American Civil Liberties Union or ACLU. Jeremy Gruber, a spokesman for the group's New Jersey affiliate, said the figure is probably higher. 'That was an old survey,' Gruber said recently. 'It has become far more prevalent.'"

The article explains that: "At private companies, economics, not surprisingly, is the driving force behind the growth in anti-smoking regulations, with savings on health care as a primary reason. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that it cost the nation $3,383 a year for every smoker. That breaks down to $1,760 in lost productivity and $1,623 in medical bills."

One such company is Orland Beach, Florida-based The Homac Companies, a designer, manufacturer, and distributor of electrical connectors. If you click on the Careers link looking for a position with the company, you will be greeted by the message "Tobacco Free Candidates Only." Even if you are just looking for an internship with Homac, you are also greeted by the message "Tobacco Free Candidates Only."

Homac's mission is "to be a premier manufacturer and supplier of Electric Power Delivery Connectors and Cable Accessories; we are committed to world class performance as demonstrated by continuous improvement in safety, innovation, quality, cost, flexibility, and customer satisfaction."

The Rest of the Story

This is a great example of blatant employment discrimination. Whether one smokes or not, or uses smokeless tobacco or not, has no relevance to one's qualifications for a job making and selling quality electrical connectors and accessories. Can you tell me in what way an employee's smoking status affects his ability to design, develop, make, distribute, or sell an aluminum bus support bolt circle height adapter or a #4 - 250 AAC bolted aluminum cable?

If anything, this job discrimination makes it more difficult and less likely that Homan will be able to produce quality bolted aluminum cables because they are automatically precluding from potential employment about 20% of the population, which undoubtedly includes some of the most qualified candidates for such a job.

Tobacco use status of an employee also has no relation to the Homan Companies mission. How does whether an employee smokes or not in the privacy of his or her own home affect the company's mission of being a premier manufacturer and supplier of electric power delivery connectors and cable accessories?

Perhaps I could understand if this were a company whose mission was to provide smoking cessation services to addicted smokers, but how does my smoking status affect my ability to make electrical connectors?

Perhaps more importantly, what right does my employer have to even inquire about my lawful personal behavior in my own home, if it is not directly related either to a bona fide job requirement or to the company's mission?

One might argue that the employer has the right to ask about my tobacco use in my home because he wants to reduce health care costs and he believes that my health care costs may be higher if I am a smoker. The problem is that if the invasion of my privacy about my own personal lifestyle is justified in order for the employer to reduce his health care costs, then the employer is also perfectly at liberty to ask me about my diet, the number of times I exercise each week, how much I weigh, and various aspects of my sexual behavior (limited only, in some states, by questions related to my sexual orientation).

For example, the company would be perfectly justified in greeting potential job applicants with the message "Fat People Need Not Apply," "One Sexual Partner Applicants Only," or "Applicants without Children Under Five Years Old Only."

My argument here is that not only is this blatant discrimination, but it is an undue invasion of individual privacy. Can you imagine having to fill out a questionnaire about all of your personal health habits, including your diet, physical activity, hours of sun exposure, use of sunscreen, use of seat belts, and sexual behavior before even being allowed to apply for a job?

It's pretty obvious to me that such a questionnaire would represent an undue, and obnoxious, invasion of privacy. So why then is it not similarly an inappropriate invasion of privacy to ask about my tobacco use history?

The answer is simple: it is an inappropriate invasion of privacy to ask about my tobacco use off-the-job, unless it is directly related either to the job requirements or to the company mission.

The failure of any U.S. anti-smoking groups to speak out against this widespread employment discrimination and invasion of privacy is unfortunate, and it illustrates the "end justifies the means" mentality of the modern anti-smoking movement.

Sure - discriminating against smokers and interfering with their privacy may help to lower smoking rates and save employers money. But it is inappropriate and has no place in public health. Anti-smoking groups should be ashamed of themselves for failing to speak out strongly against this obnoxious practice.

http://tobaccoanalysis.blogspot.com/

Restaurant smoking ban hits next week

Ban introduced in new Hampshire,but look at the fines for business owners-$100 for first offence and then $200 for more than one-I have heard landlords say that with that level of fine,they would run a kitty in their pub and allow smoking in the UK.

Restaurant smoking ban hits next week
Public health chief hopes for cooperation

New Hampshire's restaurant and bar patrons have less than a week to light up their cigarettes indoors before a smoking ban goes into effect.

The ban starts Sept. 17, prohibiting smoking in all restaurants and bars, as well as at any public event, such as a bingo night, at an otherwise private social, fraternal or religious club.

The law carries a $100 fine for smokers who ignore the ban. Restaurant and bar owners face a $100 fine for the first offense and a $200 fine for multiple offenses.

At the Windmill Restaurant in Concord, owner Louie Smirnioudis said that he's already telling his patrons to smoke outside.

"People have been very understanding," Smirnioudis said. "They don't like it - a lot of the heavy smokers don't like it - but they obey the law."

---ADVERTISEMENT---

A person who sees someone smoking in violation should first report it to the manager and can then send in a form to state health officials.
"We do not expect, frankly, an awful lot of difficulty with this new law," said Maryann Cooney, director of the state Division of Public Health. "We want cooperation more than we want a complaint process."

The Department of Health and Human Services recently held a forum for business owners to explain the ban, which is similar to bans in effect in 21 other states. State leaders called it a public health issue and said there's no risk to profits.

"In New York City alone, the revenues there increased almost 9 percent after the implementation of such a law in their state," said Nick Toumpas, acting HHS commissioner.

Cardiac claims are hardly believable

Cardiac claims are hardly believable
It is widely reported this week that heart attack admissions in Scotland have dropped by 17% among non-smokers this year since the smoking ban was introduced. This announcement was timed to coincide with the conference "Towards a smoke-free society", at which Scottish Government-commissioned studies evaluating the smoking ban were announced yesterday.

These results should be treated with considerable caution. Similar studies have been carried out in the US in relatively small populations, with apparently startling results, which seem to indicate the unquestionable health benefits of general smoking bans. However, in 2005, David Kunemann and Michael McFadden undertook a study with a database 1000 times larger than most famous studies ("Helena" and "Pueblo"); it demonstrated that dramatic drops in cardiac admissions did not occur in larger, more stable populations. All their figures were obtained from public records and are completely verifiable.

Statistically, it is much less likely large populations will experience unusual circumstances where ER admissions for heart attacks decline suddenly and randomly. However, if researchers sift through enough small local jurisdictions with smoking bans, it may be possible to find a few unusual circumstances in which a sharp decline in ER admissions for heart attacks has occurred at the same time a smoking ban took effect.

advertisementIt is certain the agenda for this conference was clear - to extend restrictions on smoking - and that at the very least claims of a 17% drop in Scottish cardiac admissions over the past year were scarcely believable in the face of compelling evidence that such enormous drops do not occur in large population bases.

Belinda Cunnison, Convener, Freedom to Choose (Scotland), 58 Constitution Street, Leith, Edinburgh.

BMA SAYS HALT MACHINE SALES

BMA SAYS HALT MACHINE SALES

Welsh doctors' leaders are calling for cigarette machines to be scrapped in an attempt to stop youngsters from taking up the habit.Bosses at the British Medical Association Cymru Wales hope the banning of tobacco vending machines and a block on the sale of packs of 10 cigarettes would help to enforce the age increase on tobacco sales.

The fresh clampdown on smoking will see the legal age people can buy cigarettes raised from 16 to 18 on October 1.

It comes in the wake of the April 2 smoking ban on lighting up in enclosed places, including pubs and clubs.


The BMA made the call in its five-point plan to encourage youngsters to stub out smoking.

Richard Lewis, Welsh secretary of the British Medical Association, said: "It's estimated that some 400 Welsh lives will be saved each year as a consequence of Wales's historic smoking ban.

"But we must not stop there. Smoking among young people in Wales remains stubbornly high and we must renew our efforts to stop youngsters from getting hooked in the first place.

"We must restrict young people's access to cigarettes. One of the ways that we can do this is to ban vending machines and restrict the sale of packs of 10."

WARNING: SMOKING BAN IS BAD FOR NATION'S HEALTH

WARNING: SMOKING BAN IS BAD FOR NATION'S HEALTH
The ban on smoking is simply New Labour petty tyranny
http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/18801
By Martin Townsend
THERE has been at last one amusing aspect of New Labour’s ludicrous smoking ban and that’s the rise of the DSS (Designated Smoking Station).

Since July, when the ban came into force, my family has been on the look-out for the saddest place set aside for desperate puffers.

Until recently the winner was a tiny area in a hotel car park in Boscombe, Dorset.

Separated from the parked vehicles by a velvet rope and decorated with a small rubber-plant, both obviously meant to give the space a little “je ne sais quoi”, the area also had that DSS requisite: a white plastic chair. The mere sight of this pathetic little nook provoked gales of laughter and finger-pointing from my children.

Then, last weekend on a late break to soak up a bit of sun in Broadstairs, Kent, my wife and mother-in-law spotted the DSS to end them all: a wooden stool, outside a café, labelled, with medieval simplicity, Smoking Chair. A sign attached read: “Anyone found using this seat and not smoking will be fined £80.”

This was interesting because it reminded me of something I’d read in Bill Bryson’s entertaining and informative new book on Shakespeare (Harper Press, £14.99).

In a chapter entitled The Lost Years, Bryson gives an account of how tobacco, which was introduced to London the year after Shakespeare’s birth, was gaining in popularity and was even considered to have health benefits.

“It was employed,” Bryson writes, “not only for pleasure but as a treatment for a broad range of complaints including venereal disease, migraine and even bad breath and was seen as such a reliable prophylactic against plague that even small children were encouraged to use it. For a time pupils at Eton faced a beating if caught neglecting their tobacco!”

What a wonderful image: a trembling Goatsfoot Minor facing terrible torments for being caught behind the bikesheds without his packet of Will’s Whiffs.

I might add, at this juncture, that during the Sixties a doctor actually recommended that my mother take up smoking as a curative for her bad chest.

So, in just a few decades, tobacco has gone from being a medicinal substance to something so dangerous that the Government has taken to attaching lurid colour photographs of diseased lungs and cancer-ridden throats to its latest anti-smoking advertisements.

I find it hard to view any of this as progress. Just as the ban on fox-hunting was designed to cock a sour-faced New labour snook at the countryside and its traditions, so the smoking ban is designed to please those prickly health fascists on the party’s Liberal Left who loathe anything to do with the old-style British working-class, from sliced white bread to Yorkshire bitter.

The smoking ban has not stopped anyone from lighting up. It stands solely as a monument to the ludicrous, lemon-faced spite of New Labour liberalism.

Good for the nation’s health? D’oh! The fact that smokers who once disappeared to the pub to puff away peacefully in adult company are now at home blowing fumes in their children’s faces makes hypocritical nonsense of the whole idea.

However, there is the other side of the equation. As my son said: “When did you ever notice so much cigarette smoke in the street?” Taking an evening taxi through West London last week I was amazed at the ranks of smokers outside the clubs and bars.

Seldom has there been a time when there are so many smokers in the one place where you least want them and where it’s most difficult to avoid them – out in the fresh air.

I predict that the ban will have no effect on the state of the nation’s health, apart from an increase in asthma-ridden children, but it’s already clear that it’s having a negative impact on the economy.

Last weekend, it was reported that up to one in five tenants are planning to quit running pubs. A mixture of the summer wind and rain (which had made some of the pubs’ temporary smoking shelters unusable) and the smoking ban itself which has driven regulars towards buying beer in their supermarkets and, yup, lighting up at home, is wrecking the trade.

One holiday camp I regularly visit was almost deserted in midsummer, mainly because its down-to-earth clientele, folk who enjoy a pint, a fag and a giggle at the resident cabaret, are no longer allowed to smoke in the ballrooms and bars.

From bingo halls to the hushed dining-rooms of haughty hotels, where waiters once proffered a mahogany box of after-dinner cigars, a whole, cherished layer of British life has been stripped away – but that’s all right, isn’t it? As long as the Perrier-swilling liberals in their gated apartment-blocks are happy.

The smoking ban, like so many of New Labour’s initiatives, has done nothing but create another level of petty and illogical tyranny. We have become a land of wagging fingers and sad plastic “naughty” chairs.

The best thing Gordon Brown can do for the nation’s health is call an early election before he and his miserable cohorts bore and bully us all into an early grave.

Smoking at home still a major concern

Interesting if our councils and housing associations think about banning smoking indoors as part of your tenancy agreement? Might sound a tad to far,but....

Smoking at home still a major concern

Fewer people are being exposed to secondhand tobacco smoke following the introduction of a ban on smoking in public places, research has shown.

However, smoking within the home environment is still of concern, as the level of exposure experienced by children in their own homes and family vehicles has changed little since the ban.

Three new studies published in the online version of the British Medical Journal suggest that achieving smoke-free homes remains a challenge.

Writing in an accompanying editorial, Professor Simon Chapman of the University of Sydney considers the possibility of a future ban on smoking in cars and homes.

The professor points out that, while several US jurisdictions and South Australia have banned smoking in vehicles when children are being transported, such a ban within the home 'would seem inconceivable in any but the most authoritarian states'.

However, he notes: 'As public smoking bans proliferate, homes are now the most important source of exposure to secondhand smoke, and unconsenting minors are often exposed.'

Professor Chapman concludes that households can still be encouraged to be smoke-free through public awareness campaigns and health workers, as well as by urging children to ask parents to smoke outdoors.
http://news.netdoctor.co.uk/news_detail.php?id=18273601

Smoking ban hits Bingo night tills

Smoking ban hits Bingo night tillsSep 8 2007




by Gavin O'Connor, South Wales Echo


Smokers are staying away from bingo halls in their droves. Gavin O’Connor investigates how the smoking ban is hitting the bingo hall tills

BINGO halls across South Wales are feeling the drag of a major profit slump six months into the smoking ban.

And managers are bracing themselves for more dwindling revenue when the colder weather soon kicks in.

The serious profit slide has been caused by smokers avoiding the big cash-generating games to catch up on a quick puff outside the buildings.

Since April, when the ban came into force in Wales, the whole culture of bingo playing has changed, say staff, players and managers.


The numerous bingo halls the Echo contacted all reported a drop of between 15 to 20 per cent in revenue and workingmen’s clubs and associations where a pint and a fag go hand in hand have also said the same.


A worker at a Castle Bingo hall, who did not want to be named, said: “There have been meetings about the drop in revenue but I’m not sure exactly how much we’re suffering by.


“The paper games which take place early in the evening are fine – the problem relates to the telebingo and 25p, 50p and £1 games where most of the money is made.


“Players, the majority of which are smokers, use these times as opportunities to nip out for a fag. The fruit machines are also emptier than they’ve ever been because of this.”


Kelly Davies, 23, of Merthyr Tydfil, has been a member of Castle Bingo since the she was old enough to play.


The company set up in the town exactly 11 years ago this month.


Kelly said when interval of the paper games takes place at 8pm, there’s a mass exodus of smokers through the door before an 8.15pm resumption.


“The ban is an absolute nuisance when you want to play,” said Kelly.


“You’ll regularly get about 40 smokers outside where the fag end trays have been put. It’s totally changed the evening and I’ve noticed there’s definitely less people going now.”


There are believed to be three million bingo players in the UK.


Kelly’s friend, Alison Griffiths, 31, of Cherry Grove, Gurnos, is one of the smoking-ban casualties.


She stopped playing three months ago because of the new law.


She said: “Everything is interrupted now and you can’t enjoy it the same because it’s a different experience.


“I think a lot of people feel the same.”


South Wales’ biggest bingo operator Castle Bingo refused to comment in any way on the smoking ban but managers at competing clubs say the issue is very real and worsening.


St Minver, which operates the world’s largest bingo network, carried out a survey of 3,000 UK bingo players to find out their attitudes towards the ban.


The survey found internet gaming services would experience a boom with more and more smokers putting their feet up at home, lighting up and clicking online.


The study revealed 62 per cent of bingo players are smokers and that 33 per cent of them will play less often while 21 per cent will stop playing in clubs altogether.


Just 14 per cent of smokers said they will kick the habit so they can continue playing with 63 per cent of smokers saying they will increase the amount they spend playing online as a result of the ban.


Mambha Param, who has been manager at Riva Bingo in Splott for more than a year but involved with the industry for nearly two decades, said it was a depressing time for the bingo industry and takings at his hall were down about a fifth.


“We’ve been struggling really badly.


“There is so much competition now as well and so many things are happening in the industry.


“You’ve got the bookmakers like William Hill, Mecca, Coral and the likes promoting internet gaming online with £10 and £5 sweeteners to attract more customers.


“The whole betting industry’s changing.”


Workingmen’s clubs are trying different methods to combat the revenue slide.


John Gould, steward at Cilfynydd Constitutional Club, said: “The smoking ban has certainly had an effect.


“In the last couple of weeks, we have put an outside smoking area in and that’s helped.


“We had a few in for the rugby games recently but after an hour, they bought some cans and went home to watch so they could smoke as well.


“For the next three months, we’ve knocked the price of beer and lager down by 5p and 10p – hopefully, that will bring some people back.”


Pat Grabham, stewardess at the Royal British Legion in Bridgend for 25 years, said the end of the summer season spelled frostier times at the till.


She said: “We’ll definitely be hit harder in the winter. I didn’t think there should’ve been a total ban but it’s here now.


“So many of our customers are old people. We hold three bingo nights here and we’ve already found the weather has a big say in the turnout. Elderly people are not going to go out in the cold for a fag.


“So far we’ve been lucky because the Crown (adjacent pub) has closed – the tenants were smokers and they decided to finish. We’ve picked up some of their custom and we’re putting some money away to cope with what’s going to happen in the winter. It’s not something we’re looking forward to.”


gavin.o’connor@wme.co.uk

Remember Remember the 5th of November

Remember Remember the 5th of November





We look forward to our two day trial on Bonfire night November 5th and November 6th at Blackpool Magistrates Court where no doubt there will be fireworks from the council prosecution. A District judge is hearing the case whose date gave a wry smile to everyone present at court. I really do feel the date was chosen by God and all our loved ones looking down. I have officially changed my name to Hamish Guy Fawkes Howitt. I have changed my name to show my contempt for parliament in a peaceful way, politicians blew themselves up with their ego and lies and it’s to totally mock MP’s for voting in a domino effect on a wave of emotion to suppress 25% of highly taxed lawful adults. I have nothing but respect for the courts and the judicial system, I am confident we will beat this flagrant abuse of human rights which dehumanises respectable people like animals in a zoo. I mock parliament proudly in the way parliament mock 14 million smokers. A fag and a pint and a right to discuss politics, footie, social life etc is the only real pleasure for the working classes, the elderly, the handicapped, the underclass and the millions of carers looking after the elderly parents or handicapped children, the blind with guide dogs are denied shelter, such is the politicians wrath lies and deceit. So someone was definitely looking down on smokers to remember, remember the 5th of November, when at long last we will be able to challenge this unjust law, so Hamish Guy Fawkes Howitt is very apt for the start of a democratic challenge through our legal system to an ill flawed unjust law. The Guy Fawkes could easily be Guy FOX! Because read what the governments manifesto promised if they were returned to power, they clearly stated vote for us and we will ban FOX! Hunting, the poor FOXES are being killed in even greater numbers. The country alliance numbers are swelling as Otis odious ferry storms parliament with inside help and what does the rich pampered fox leading hunter get? A £300 fine, these fox hunters are putting two fingers up to the people who voted for the ban, they make a mockery of justice and the law but their rich and privileged pampered elitism lets them jolly well do what they want. Oh and what do the police do? They state we are too busy and fox hunting is way down on their list of priorities and resources. So then we look at those working class smokers who were promised vote our government back in and our manifesto pledge is that we will allow you to meet and socialise and talk politics in non eating bars and clubs. It’s parliament who is making a mockery of 25% of the people, it’s ok to break the law if you’re a rich FOX hunter even though we promised to ban it but it’s not ok to have a fag and a pint even though we promised you could, we reverse our manifesto and don’t care about broken promises, oh and the police who place rich fox hunters way down our list of priorities what do they do? Here goes, they are using their limited resources with trading standards to try and close me down, they suddenly find the time and money to interfere with my lawful pub and smokers, yet its’ not a police offence it’s a civil offence, so how come since the 1st of July we have had visits totalling over 100 people, police and trading standards, yes over 100 to catch lawful smokers and hard working licensees. No resources foxhunting, drugs, underage real street drinking, people getting mugged. Yes folks over 100 police and trading standards, last weekend 4 on Friday, 4 on Saturday 16 in another weekend. I am determined that this abuse of power and abuse of parliament will be challenged and defeated, I am determined along with friends like Nick Hogan, Tony Blower, Dave West, Bill Gibson and all our friends, smokers and non smokers www.freedom2choose.com are united. In this suppression of freedom which if we lose will open the floodgates of the anti brigade zealots to attack alcohol, obesity and all the other things that effect these couple of thousand miserable fascists. Why is it you never meet a happy smiling anti we will put a halt to people’s pleasure brigade?

This Hamish Guy Fawkes Howitt plans a fun powder plot to bring back smiles and freedom back to the UK instead of kegs of dynamite in our cellar we have kegs of beer

smokers causing more noise

A fed-up town centre resident says the smoking ban in bars is actually creating greater pollution - from noise.

http://www.suttonobserver.co.uk

The Victoria Road homeowner claimed that the din emanating from the outdoor smoking area at Reflex-RB's last Thursday was as loud as a football terrace."We've had a lot of problems since the smoking ban came in," said Stephanie Langford-Brown, "and it's getting worse.

"Last Thursday there was what sounded like 20 male youths singing at the top of their voice.

"I looked out my window and expected to see a group walking along the street but I couldn't see anybody.

"The amount of noise now coming over McDonald's is greater because they're all outside."

Manager and coordinator of the joint police-licensee Pub Watch scheme Colin Pidgeon said that smokers would gather in the space between McDonald's and his bar on neighbouring Lower Parade.

But he added: "It's not loud there; we don't have any more noise than before the ban."

Mr Pidgeon said that the issue was more likely to be that the complaint pertained to a Thursday; historically a busier trading day than Friday and Saturday, particularly during the summer when students are out of class.

Ms Langford-Brown said that things tended to be worse on Thursdays, with one factor being the absence of the weekend taxi marshalling scheme.

There were ongoing discussions, Mr Pidgeon explained, into how the scheme could be extended.

"In this instance, I think it's likely to be a Thursday meeting the summer students - it's the noise people make on the way home.

"We do our best to remind customers to leave quietly but it's very difficult to control once they're off the premises."

Ms Langford-Brown maintained that the situation had deteriorated since the blanket ban was introduced in July but she said she did not consider it to be the fault of Reflex-RB's.

"But perhaps," she said, "door staff could ask smokers to stop singing when gathered outside."

Blackpool feels the pinch

A recent article reported how many hotels and guest houses are currently for sale,aproximately £55m or real estate,200 hotels and guest houses. Record amounts.

Now,it certainly has been a poor summer,but is it any coincidence that the smoking ban has been brought in?
This is Blackpool,and i would guess smokers make up much more than the nationwide level of 25%.
I would also guess,that it is not a place that appeals to our puritanical health fanatics either. No rush of carrot munchers rushing in to use the leisure facilities.

So,when smokers are planning their holidays,as well as weather and everything else they take into consideration-smoking now becomes a holiday issue.

European countries who do have a smoking ban,have exemptions and indoor smoking areas and weather and cheap food,booze and cigs-its a no brainer really is it.

So Blackpool and other English resorts who have already struggled to compete with cheap package holidays,now have another very major challenge-the UK fascist smoking ban.

It didn't have to be this way-we could have had a smoking ban that appeased smokers and non smokers alike.
Thanks New Labour-but remember- I SMOKE I VOTE

Police and council officials in Wales say licencees could lose their licence if they cannot stop smokers using bad language outside their pubs.

Police and council officials in Wales say licencees could lose their licence if they cannot stop smokers using bad language outside their pubs.

A report by the Safer Neath Port Talbot Business Crime Reduction Partnership says the bad language is anti-social behaviour and is the responsibility of licensees.


Failure to adequately control the impact and conduct of the public house can lead to a review of their licence, or even revocation
Neath Port Talbot Council environmental health manager, Huw Jones.

"Primarily, if there is public disorder, then the police have powers to act.

"Additionally, the landlord will have responsibilities under the Licensing Act to maintain control of his premises and this duty extends to the impact his business has on the immediate vicinity.

"Failure to adequately control the impact and conduct of the public house can lead to a review of their licence, or even revocation."

The authority's head of licensing, Jim Sullivan, said some complaints had already been dealt with informally.

"We have spoken to one or two premises and they have taken steps to resolve the matter one way or another," he told the paper.

http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news_detail.aspx?articleid=48943&categoryid=36

Hamish Howitt has been given a new date for his trial

Smoke ban rebel Hamish Howitt has been given a new date for his trial at Blackpool court. The licensee of the Happy Scots bar attended court today and was told to return on Novemeber 5th, when a district judge would be available.

Howitt has publicly challenged the authorities to prosecute him and says he is prepared to go to prison if need be.

David West, and business associate Harry Barnett, who are also flouting the ban, plan to back Howitt with a large protest outside the court.

Barnett said: “It’s going to be a big protest, we’re going to get everybody in the pro-smoking movement involved, including Freedom To Choose. It will be the biggest event of its kind and we hope to attract a lot of media attention.”

There is a very serious rumour that Hamish is going to change his name to Hamish Guy Fawkes by deed poll.

Scotland takes action over supermarket alcohol pricing

Did we not tell you it would be booze next?

Scotland takes action over supermarket alcohol pricing
http://www.thepublican.com/story.asp?storycode=56825
By Michelle Perrett

The Executive is to ban a range of alcohol promotions in the off-trade under the Licensing Act

Supermarkets and off-licences are to face a ban on alcohol promotions by the Scottish Executive.

Cabinet Secretary Kenny MacAskill has announced that under the new Licensing Act a range of alcohol promotions including the placement of alcohol such beer being displayed with barbeques as well as promotions that provide alcohol free or at a reduced price will be banned.

He told delegates at a Alcohol Focus Scotland Licensing Conference: “There is something in a country deluged by rain and surrounded by water that a bottle of cider or beer can be bought for less than a bottle of water.

"I will be bringing forward regulations which will require premises to have separate alcohol display areas.


"I will expect tough action to be taken by the Licensing Board to determine whether the premises should continue to reap the benefits of retailing alcohol."


Alcohol Placement:

No cross merchandising
No beer beside barbeque charcoal
No wine in the pizza counter
No gin and tonic in the chiller cabinet alongside the lunchtime sandwiches
Alcohol Pricing:

Ban “buy Two get one free”
Ban £10 cases of beer being sold for £20 for 3 cases
Ban 12 bottles for the price of 10
This will mean that a case of 24 cans will need to cost the same as buying 24 individual cans

Landlord may face action on smoking ban

Landlord may face action on smoking ban


Landlord Martin Turver defies the ban in his pub.


04 September 2007 06:30

A Norfolk landlord and landlady could be among the first publicans in the country to face the courts accused of flouting the smoking ban.

Council officials yesterday revealed they had been gathering information in recent weeks about the Dog and Partridge in East Wretham, near Thetford, including undercover work.

Nigel Burrows, principal environmental health officer, said it was “almost inevitable” that he would recommend Breckland Council prosecutes landlord Martin Turver, 50, and his wife Karen, 43, and said that if the case goes ahead it would be the first prosecution of its kind in the region.

If prosecuted, Mr and Mrs Turver could face a £2,500 fine.

Since the legislation came into force in July to stub out cigarettes in public places, Mr Turver has urged publicly all licensees who “disagree with the blatant infringement of civil liberties” to push for the smoking ban to be repealed.

He has threatened to delicense the pub and give punters a free pint if they buy a cup of tea - dodging the ban by turning the pub into a private property.

Last night he declined to comment, but last month he told the EDP: “The smoking ban is a blatant infringement of people's civil liberties. While the House of Commons is exempt from the law, publicans who struggle to earn their living are covered by the ban.

“It would be sheer folly and downright unfair to ask our customers, who are mainly smokers, to stub out their cigarettes or smoke outside.”

The fuming landlord battled to reopen the Dog and Partridge more than 12 months ago after it had been closed for five years.

Mr Burrows said the council had gathered a catalogue of evidence against the Dog and Partridge for many weeks, including complaints from customers, villagers and other pubs.

He added that Mr Turver publicly stating his defiance in the media had made the council even more determined to take action.

Mr Burrows said there had been a number of visits to the pub, some undercover, by the council and police, including one on Friday to warn pub-goers that they could be served fixed penalty notices if found to be lighting up inside.

“The level of compliance with the ban around Norfolk has been exceptional. I am impressed with how well most pubs are doing. It seems to be only fair that we take strong action against the one pub that is not,” said Mr Burrows.

Kay Fisher, executive member for environmental health, said Breckland may also issue £50 fixed penalty notices to customers lighting up and that they may also risk criminal convictions.

“Breckland Council has a duty of care to staff and customers and must ensure there's an equitable approach for all publicans. We will enforce the ban,” she added.

Hugh Howitt, also known as Hamish, and who runs the Happy Scots Bar in Blackpool, became the first landlord in England to be prosecuted for flouting the legislation just a month after the ban was implemented in July. He has denied the charges and the case has been adjourned.

http://new.edp24.co.uk/

'THERE'S NO CRAIC WITHOUT SMOKERS'

'THERE'S NO CRAIC WITHOUT SMOKERS'
http://tinyurl.com/35ooh5
http://www.thisisscunthorpe.co.uk

A Club owner is to close his bars next weekend and sell the business in protest over the smoking ban.

Kevin Leaning (44) fears other bars will follow the fate of the Phoenix Seven, in Scunthorpe.Mr Leaning, who invested £170,000 on opening the 120-capacity club, on Sheffield Street, in May 2005, estimated trade had dropped by 40 per cent since the smoking ban was introduced on July 1.

"The ban has killed off the atmosphere in most bars. There's no craic left without the smokers," he claimed.



Mr Leaning, an occasional smoker himself, said the majority of his 200 members were smokers and were now forced to go into the back yard of the premises to enjoy a smoke.

"Smokers are being treated like second class citizens and they are voting with their feet by staying away from pubs and clubs," he said.

"The law should be changed to allow operators, staff and customers to choose if they want a bar to be smoke-free.

"Smoking outside is all right in decent weather, but wait until the winter comes, then trade will really start to slump."

Heather Campbell (20), a barmaid at Der Schnapps, on Frodingham Road, and a smoker herself, said she thought trade was down.

"We've lost a lot of trade I think. You can smell more because of it - all the bad odours - and there are people just standing outside," she said.

"But I think in the end they are going to have to get used to it."

But Ian Clark (42), licensee of the Jolly Sailor pub, on Station Road, in Gunness, said the opposite.

He admitted the £2,500 cost he had spent on accommodating smokers had been a blow, but said he thought it was money well spent and denied there had been a slump in trade.

"We've not really had a problem," he said. "In fact, we are now getting in more wives and girlfriends and trade went up the week the ban came in! But everyone's remarking on how nice it is."

But local taxi operators claim the smoking ban has hit their trade.

Andrew Longcake, owner of Scunthorpe-based Stax Cabs, said: "Smokers are now walking from pub to pub in order to enjoy a smoke rather than hire a taxi."

Gala Bingo has admitted the next 12 months will be a challenge because of the smoking ban.

The company, which has an outlet on Brigg Road, Scunthorpe, said they welcomed the law but realised it would mean big changes for some of their customers.

A spokesperson said: "Whilst we welcome the introduction of the smoking ban, we know for a number of our customers the smoking ban will have a big impact on their lives and it will be difficult for them.

"We expect to see changing patterns in the visits they make to bingo clubs and we know they will need time to adjust to the different environment."

The Phoenix Seven club will be auctioned off to the highest bidder at a sale in Lincoln on Thursday, September 27.

bbc news 24,Sean Spillane,freedom 2 choose,luton

IF you can,tune in to BBC news 24 at 12.30 and 1.30 today. Sean Spillane and other freedom 2 choose members are due to do an interview concerning the smoking ban in general and how it has affected their working mens club in Luton. The club has no outside area and is next to a council car park-the Council will not allow smoking on the car park but will allow you to breathe in toxic fumes from cars. If you remember,also,the Labour party manifesto would exempt clubs etc. This was renegaded on when they won the last election-between the Labour party and the local council,this club is in danger of closing and the local press and BBC news 24 has picked up on the story.

The press in this country is now showing aspects of the ban that are not working-there are hundreds of individuals and several organisations,working to repeal or amend this ban-there is a lot going on that is not being reported,but with people like Sean Spillane,working tirelessly,we can get this ban repealed or amended.