£50 for lighting up - but not in the union
Smokers could be fined £50 if they light up in some pubs if plans outlined by the government today go ahead.
Contrary to some press reports, the Department of Health says an outright ban in all public places is not on the cards, but Minister Caroline Flint said she wanted smoking banned in the workplace by the end of 2007 and in pubs serving food by 2008. As well as in restaurants, smoking would also be banned in "enclosed" public places like train stations, sports grounds and bus shelters.
A £50 penalty is proposed for anyone caught smoking in a restricted area, while establishments would be fined £200 (a tenth of the fine in Ireland) for either failing to put up no smoking signs or wilfully ignoring the ban. Whether this would include the owners of bus shelters is not yet clear.
Also unclear is how students' unions would be affected. All are technically private members clubs, and therefore exempt from the ban so long as their members vote against it annually, but during the day most allow anyone in to use their facilities and could therefore be seen as public places. As residential premises, though, halls of residence would not come under the ban.
Whether or not they are forced to ban smoking, some unions may decide to do so anyway. Already Sheffield bans smoking inside its Union until 4pm, while Imperial and Bournemouth experimented with bans in their bars. After takings fell they lifted their bans after certain times in the evening. Leeds lost £26,000 in 13 days last year when it imposed a ban, which it then reversed.
Unions continue to face pressure from health-conscious members, but encouraging a likely fall in bar revenue is not an endearing option when many are already struggling financially. One alternative, for unions lucky enough to have two drinking venues, is to ban smoking in one and not the other.
This is a plan encouraged by some in Hull, which has just shut its current bar with plans to create another one elsewhere over the summer. Postgraduates and mature students were particularly keen to revive the old bar as a quiet, smoke-free venue, but staffing costs may yet be a barrier.
The government is now seeking views from the public and interested parties as part of its consultation process, which lasts until 5th September. You can email them at smokefreelegislation@dh.gsi.gov.uk.
Last year Cabinet minister Alan Johnson told students that a total ban was "inevitable", but other ministers have since denied that.
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