| The policy, which is aimed at preventing children being exposed to passive smoking risks, means that pubs which do not have a separate smoke-free room available for children and families to use must operate a complete ban on smoking during the hours in which the certificate is in force.
At today’s meeting of the board several licensees sought to have the condition lifted in respect of their public houses because it was impractical for them to have a separate room.
However, the board made it clear that the policy would be adhered to and refused to make exceptions for any of the applicants.
As outlined at today’s meeting, many publicans regard the policy as unfair and feel they can’t afford to operate a children’s certificate on the basis of the conditions attached.
Solicitor Ken Glass, representing several applicants at the meeting, asked if it was fair that the public could go to a restaurant only a few yards away from a public house and smoke unrestricted.
He said it was also felt by some publicans that the policy had created an “unlevel playing field” in that premises which had gained children’s certificates before the policy came into force could, in some cases, continue to operate them without the restriction until next year or 2006.
Board chairman Neil Powrie said they had made their position on the policy abundantly clear and saw no reason to depart from it.
He warmly welcomed the fact that one of the applicants — for Dexters in Castle Street — had indicated the premises are to be completely non smoking.
“It makes a change for the board to be getting support from some of the licensed trade on this,” he said. |
