Smoke-free areas in pubs good for health and business

11.46.34am BST (GMT +0100) Tue 29th Apr 2003

West Midlands Liberal Democrat Euro-MP Liz Lynne is calling for pubs and restaurants to have smoke-free areas, and for those that do to properly enforce them.

Today, Liz will be meeting representatives from the European Network for Smoking Prevention to discuss the results of a survey examining smoke-free areas in pubs and restaurants in a number of EU countries with a view to drawing together ideas on best practice.

Liz commented:

"More than 12,000 people in the UK die each year due to heart disease, lung cancer and respiratory problems caused by inhaling second hand smoke. Moreover, non-smoking is now the norm for most people. "

"I don't begrudge anyone's right to smoke but I strongly support the right for non-smokers to be protected from smoke if they want to be, particularly if they have respiratory problems of their own. That means having non-smoking sections and ensuring people do not have to walk through smoking areas to reach them. Smoking sections must also be distinct, clearly sign-posted and well ventilated to ensure they don't encroach on smoke-free areas.

"Some pubs and restaurants now have non-smoking sections, but in a number of cases the amount of thinking that has gone into them leaves a lot to be desired. Despite the fact that we have fewer smokers than ever, having non-smoking sections is still perceived by many as something that will hurt business. Yet the evidence from some EU countries suggests that in the vast majority of cases having non-smoking sections that are properly enforced does not lead to a loss in customers and in some cases can even increase business."