SMOKING BAN OUTSIDE PUBS ‘WON’T WORK’
Nowadays people are more and more coming out for food and the social aspect of drinking, rather than to smoke. I understand [the changes] could affect some pubs, but there could still be a designated smoking area - Alex O’driscoll, proprietor of the King Arthur Hotel in Gower
THERE’S been a mixed reaction among bar owners and customers to the plans to ban smoking outside pubs, cafes and restaurants.
This week, Health Minister Vaughan Gething said he was committed to “progress work” on the ban in the next Senedd term.
If it happens, the plan could mean big changes for outdoor seating areas at pubs in Wales, some of which opened for business for the first time in four months this week.
Although smoking indoors has been banned here since 2007, an estimated 440,000 (17%) adults currently smoke in Wales, with almost half (45%) attempting to quit in the last year.
The Post asked some bar owners and customers what they thought of the proposals, and the responses were mixed.
Alex O’driscoll, proprietor of the King Arthur Hotel in Gower, reopened his doors to customers this week.
“At present we have banned all smoking outside, and customers are only allowed to do it in the pub car park,” he explained.
“When we reopen we will have a designated smoking area for people to go, but there will be no smoking on the outside tables.
“People’s attitudes towards going to the pub have totally changed, and we need to move with it.
“Nowadays people are more and more coming out for food and the social aspect of drinking, rather than to smoke. I understand [the changes] could affect some pubs, but there could still be a designated smoking area.
“Times have changed and pubs need to adapt.”
Paul Rumbelow, deputy manager at the Lewis Jones Sports Bar and Grill in Gorseinon, thinks it will be impossible to stop people smoking outside.
“Realistically it’s not going to work is it?,” he said.
“How are you actually going to stop people other than physically stopping them?
“Unless you ban it altogether on the pub grounds, I don’t know how you’re going to do it.
“Stopping people smoking indoors stopped a lot of people going into pubs, so I don’t think it’ll work.”
Smoker Calvin Smith, 55, works in volunteering in Swansea. He said: “It’s completely ridiculous. Where’s the scientific evidence? Look at how many people live to old age and smoke.
“Smokers are always the ones being attacked when there are so many issues and health risks linked to alcohol in Wales.
“If the government want to do something about health, why don’t they subsidise fruit and veg on a local level? Stop adverts for pasties and pies?”
Bartender Shane Jones, 24, from Swansea said: “It’s a social and economic problem. If you stop people smoking outside pubs and clubs, they’ll inevitably lose business. When I smoke in those areas I never get people telling me they are uncomfortable because usually it’s just smokers in that area.”
It’s completely ridiculous. Where’s the scientific evidence? Look at how many people live to old age and smoke - Smoker Calvin Smith
It’s a social and economic problem. If you stop people smoking outside pubs and clubs, they’ll inevitably lose business - Bartender Shane Jones