Proposed change in UK pubs (non smoking areas) - soc.culture.british

Message from discussion Proposed change in UK pubs (non smoking areas)

Craig Cockburn

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More options 14 Sep 1990, 02:11

Newsgroups: soc.culture.british

From: cockb...@craigy.enet.dec.com (Craig Cockburn)

Date: 13 Sep 90 09:52:21 GMT

Local: Thurs 13 Sep 1990 10:52

Subject: Re: Proposed change in UK pubs (non smoking areas)

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All,
Here is a more up to date copy of the 'Non smoking areas in pubs'
letter I posted a while back. I would appreciate people using this
message, or a variant of it, if they wish to join the campaign. No
need to credit me, I'm not doing this for any personal gain. I'd
also appreciate the addresses of anti-smoking groups such as ASH,
just to keep them updated with what I'm doing (they don't know about
me yet)

thanks
Craig

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
13th September 1990

Proposed change to Good Beer Guide and how it affects you

Dear ,

I am writing to you to find out whether you would be interested in adopting
in your premises an important change currently taking place in the British
pub. That change is the provision of smoke free areas in multi-roomed pubs.
I hope to show in this letter that as a result of adopting this change
you will benefit financially, from both increased custom and reduced
overheads.

In January 1988, the Consumers Association interviewed a random sample of
2,175 people throughout Great Britain to find out their views
on pubs. The top change which people wanted was No Smoking Rooms
with a third of the people interviewed wanting this change. The full report
is in the January 1988 edition of Which? Pages 28-31. Clearly the public
want the change, and the first pubs to adopt the change will reap the
most benefit.

I have received support for this change from the Director of the Campaign
for Real Ale. He said 'CAMRA supports any brewery or licensee who allocates
a separate room for non-smokers; this was essentially the wording of motion
43 carried at the 1979 AGM.' The Campaign Manager at CAMRA has also said
'Smoking. I share your views. A no-smoking sign for the good beer guide is
a good idea; this year's guide is going to press, but we may consider it
for next year. A straw poll at the last AGM showed heavy support for the
proposal that all multi-roomed pubs should declare one room non-smoking.'
The current suggestion is for a 'smoke free area' note on the review forms
for the 1992 beer guide. Surveying for this guide will take place in the
Spring of 1991, so I thought it would be reasonable to write to you in
advance and let you know of this important change which is likely to affect
you. Once people are able to find clean air pubs more easily, I believe
they will gain tremendously in support. Additionally, people who dislike
smoke will stay longer if the air remains clean. It is therefore in your
financial interests to providing smoke free areas, before others do so and
possibly affect your trade.

In recent years, there has been a general shift in the atmosphere of pubs
away from the spit and sawdust working man's bar, to a more up-market and
relaxed atmosphere with real ales, pleasant surroundings and quality food.
The trend in society is also for smoking to become increasingly less
popular and less fashionable. Furthermore, smoking is becoming much less
socially acceptable, especially for the large majority of the population
who are non smokers. It seems natural that the provision of smoke free
areas within pubs is merely continuing this trend.

Apart from the financial benefits to your pub, there is also the public's
attitude to smoking in public places. This has changed dramatically
recently. Many public places such as the London Transport system, cinemas,
airlines, restaurants and even the place where I work (1,500+ people on
site) have restricted the places where people may smoke. Birmingham is
trying to phase out smoking in all public places by the year 2000. Dublin
has already done this, as 20% of deaths there are from smoking related
illnesses. Asthma sufferers may have problems breathing in a smoky
atmosphere. People who wear contact lenses can also have problems with
smoke, as it irritates their eyes. Besides all these health risks, there
is also the problem of good clothes smelling of smoke long after leaving
the pub.

The BBC TV programme 'Life on One' had a discussion on smoking in public
places on 28-Jun-90. They showed that even an efficient air extractor in a
pub still results in a non smoker breathing a similar amount of fumes to a
light smoker. Programmes and statistics such as these encourage people to
stay away from places like pubs which have a reputation for being smoky.
92% of the people responding to a phone-in for this programme were in
favour of more restrictions on smoking in public places. Once these
restrictions appear, there is considerable public support behind them to
make sure they succeed. Many of the larger cinema complexes have gone
entirely non smoking, and continue to be supported in ever greater numbers.

One or two pubs with smoke free areas are now starting to appear, and I am
writing to you to see if you would like to join the growing movement of
publicans who have realised the financial and health related benefits of
having non smoking areas. As someone who worked behind a bar for 18 months,
I appreciate more than most having to work in an atmosphere every day where
people stand at the bar smoking and the publican ends up breathing the
smokiest air in the pub. Besides the benefit of increased custom, the
publican also gains by spending less time on cleaning ash trays and floors
after each session. It also means that the pub requires redecoration less
often. This maintains its atmosphere, reduces the need for redecorating
closures and may even result in cheaper insurance. Above all, it reduces
your operating costs and increases profitability.

In the light of public opinion and the financial considerations, could you
please consider making part of your premises non smoking. Having a pub with
a smoke free area gives both smokers and non smokers alike a choice, which
non smokers presently do not have. I am not advocating banning smoking
entirely, since I accept many people would not want to give it up. However,
it seems reasonable to give those people who do not wish to be in a smoky
atmosphere the opportunity to do so. People presently choose to smoke or
not to smoke, I believe this choice should remain so long as no one
interferes with the comfort of anyone else.

I am not a member of any anti-smoking group, I am merely a regular pub
goer who wants to ensure the British pub remains popular in the face of
changing public opinion towards smoking in public places.

Yours faithfully,

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