The latest issue of The Publican's Morning Advertiser is out today and it features a four-page cover wrap promoting the Save Our Pubs & Clubs campaign.
There are two pages of advertorial. One features the story, 'Out in the cold: why smokers are turning their backs on the British pub'. The other is headlined, 'It's time to relax the smoking ban: Government should look to Europe say campaigners'.
There is also a short piece by Joe Jackson plus quotes from several readers of this blog: Pat Nurse, Nick Lowe, Tim Paton, Liz Barber and Jocelyn Erskine-Kellie.
Joe writes:
“We’re told everyone has ‘adapted’ to the ban, ‘got used to it’, ‘moved on’ etc, but this is meaningless when smokers have no choice in the matter. A total ban backed up by stiff penalties is difficult to oppose in any visible way so it was always going to be portrayed as a success as long as there weren’t riots in the streets.
“I no longer go to pubs except occasionally to eat a meal, see a band, or sit in a pub garden in nice weather. When in the UK I socialise at home or in friends’ homes. Sitting in a non-smoking pub I’m uncomfortable because I feel that, by patronising it, I am in effect supporting the ban.
"Yes, some pubs have made an effort but more certainly needs to be done.”
Inside the main body of the magazine there is a further feature about the smoking ban. It has comments from me, Martin Dockrell of ASH, Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, and Tim Martin, chairman of Weatherspoons.
Worth a read. Click here to download pdf versions of both features.
PS. One of the advertorial articles features a picture of a bar in Holland where customers are allowed to smoke. Yesterday judges in the Netherlands ruled that Customers can continue to smoke in small bars.