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British pubs should be allowed to lift smoking ban says Wirral Euro MP

9:40am Thursday 22nd September 2011 in News

A EURO MP is calling for Government to have a rethink on the smoking ban.

At the start of British Pub Week, Wirral MEP Paul Nuttall has urged the coalition to step in to help the industry.

"Pubs are local parliaments and are a very important part of our society. Once the traditional pubs have gone they will never return," said Mr Nuttall, UKIP deputy leader.

"There is no simple answer but it is certainly time to re-think the smoking ban.

"The political powers of this country dealt pubs an absolute hammer blow four years ago with the total smoking ban. It has taken 20% off pub takings.

"Across Northern Europe common sense is prevailing and pubs and restaurants are now allowed to provide a separate smoking room.

"This is exactly what should be happening here, it would make such a difference."

He added: “I think the campaign to take VAT down to 5% in pubs would actually help Government revenue, because 40 pubs a week are closing and closed pubs pay no tax at all."

Mr Nuttall said supermarkets have played a role in the demise of pubs.

"In many cases they are actually selling alcohol below even the level of duty, and it’s making it virtually impossible for the pubs to compete," he said.

Comments(11)

chas says...
1:31pm Thu 22 Sep 11

Pubs are far more unhealthy since the smoking ban. Most have removed their ventilation systems leaving the carcinogenic alcohol fumes, cooking fumes and all the other smells trapped inside.
A good ventilation system will get rid of all fumes and smells, including cigarette smoke.

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tug wilson says...
2:12pm Thu 22 Sep 11

Paul Nuttall has it spot-on, the rest of the EU will Not have a total ban because they know it will be a disaster for the Industry, here in the UK we are well out of step and we Must Reform the smoking ban to allow both the Industry and the Public Choice, it is the only way forward and the only way we will save our Pub and Club trade, They have tried total smoke free and it has proven to be a failure, this coalition must have the guts to go against the over powerful health lobby and do the Right thing. Choice for All is good for Business and Good for the Country, lets get rid of this Prohibition and Discrimination.

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marma495 says...
5:31pm Thu 22 Sep 11

Supermarkets have only played a role due to so many people no longer welcome in pubs.
Frankly I,m beginning to think that the Government dare not have an independent review in case it becomes public knowledge of the huge financial burden the smoking ban has made on the population of this country.
Whatever happened to Great Britain known all over the world for it,s democracy and fairness? What has happened to the Conservatives known for showing support to business,s large and small?
So many options available to re-invent the struggling pubs. Separate room/ ventilation/ or landlords having a choice to have a smoking or non smoking venue.
It,s not rocket science.

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tug wilson says...
7:42pm Thu 22 Sep 11

Marma495

David Cameron has Promised to Break Down the Barriers to Business, The Pubs and Clubs are sill waiting for the Smoking Ban Barrier to be changed, how much longer are the coalition going to sit and watch as the Industry is killed off by the Ill thought out ban.

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ScouseIrish says...
4:28pm Fri 23 Sep 11

Lets talk about fairness then if people want to:

40 million social drinkers in the UK. 22% of Britons are smokers, leaving 78% as non-smokers. That equates to approx 31million non-smoking drinkers. Or in laymans terms, the majority.

That is a massive majority of people by any standards - maybe pubs should market themselves to the majority as opposed to a minority? It would make good business sense to me. Just a thought.

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Jayo says...
9:21pm Fri 23 Sep 11

Alcohol in Britain is taxed the highest in Europe and is the main cause of pubs shutting down using the smoking ban is just... a smoke screen.

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Wirralrob says...
8:23am Sat 24 Sep 11

How did I know which fruitcake was behind this article without even reading it.

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Spiffy says...
1:30pm Sat 24 Sep 11

ScouseIrish wrote:
Lets talk about fairness then if people want to:

40 million social drinkers in the UK. 22% of Britons are smokers, leaving 78% as non-smokers. That equates to approx 31million non-smoking drinkers. Or in laymans terms, the majority.

That is a massive majority of people by any standards - maybe pubs should market themselves to the majority as opposed to a minority? It would make good business sense to me. Just a thought.
That "good business sense" is precisely why they are going bust. "Fairly" of course... so that's ok.

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ordinary personn says...
6:53pm Sat 24 Sep 11

I much prefer going into pubs now that there is no smoking allowed. I couldn't stand the smell of other people's stale cigarette smoke in my hair and clothes. And no - no matter how sophisticated the ventilation system is it does not remove all trace of any smell. However, I would support the idea of smoking being allowed in SOME pubs and then people can choose which pub they use. Before the ban, my choice was not to go into pubs. After the ban, smokers can't smoke in pubs. Both situations seem wrong to me and something which having non-smoking and smoking pubs might cure.

That said I am not convinced that the smoking ban is the sole reason pubs are closing. Weatherspoons seem to be doing well - ahhh cheap(er) alcohol! Supermarkets sell alcohol cheaply e.g. 3 bottles of wine for £10 - £10 doesn't go that far in a pub. I guess the UK drinking culture has something to do with it. Some people drink just to get get drunk as cheaply as possible and don't look at pubs as somewhere to socialise AND have drink. Hence, cheap booze attracts them and they get drunk before going out and only have one or two drinks in a pub. Plus, having to avoid drunks and the associated violence has put many people off our city/town centre pubs. I never go into Birkenhead at a night during the weekend any more due to that.

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handymanphil says...
8:52pm Mon 26 Sep 11

Some crackpot logic ScouseIrish! When 31million non smoking drinkers cannot keep pubs going there has got to be something wrong don't you think? Yet pre ban, the 9 million smokers who enjoyed the pubs actually kept the pubs going-well over 8,000 more than there are now!
For those who applaud smoke free, you surely cannot object to licensees having the choice of whether they want smokers in or not-you, nor any other non smoker needs to frequent a smoking pub! There will be choice for all, not just the 78% that are left.
For information purposes, Wetherspoons had a pre-ban smoke free trial period...and promptly saw takings plummet-now, they want you in at 7.30 for breakfast and a pint-gruesome tactics, unless you are an apprentice alcoholic! Paul Nuttall is absolutely correct-CHOICE is the only answer!

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Malpoet says...
11:17pm Tue 27 Sep 11

Paul Nuttal is quite right that people should have a choice and be able to smoke in any establishment where the business is happy to have them. Pubs or other places should be entitled to be non-smoking or have designated smoking areas, but it is a denial of freedom to ban smoking in privately owned buildings.

It is wrong to blame supermarkets for pub failures. People will smoke and drink if they want and laws will never prevent them from doing it. If people are prevented from smoking in pubs they will do it at home and buy the alcohol from shops. It is competition that determines prices and business success or failure. Pubs can't compete as social locations because the government is destroying their ability to do so.

Some countries, like Holland, are recognising the stupidity of a total ban and have started relaxing it. It is time for the UK to wake up and do the same.

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