The president of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland, Mr John Mansworth, has called on tobacco companies to support initiatives such as a charter committing the industry to invest in improving air quality, and requiring publicans to indicate their smoking policies and facilities on signs outside their premises.
He was speaking last night on the eve of the VFI annual general meeting in Wexford. The organisation of rural publicans stated that non-smoking pubs are not a realistic prospect. Pubs that had tried to ban smoking completely had "failed miserably", and that any ban on smoking would force many of its member pubs to shut down.
"We believe that with the support of the Department of Health and the tobacco industry, an action plan can be developed to assist publicans to maintain their pubs as one of the few places where people can still enjoy the freedom of having a cigarette, whilst still making pubs a pleasant place for non-smokers to visit," Mr Mansworth said.
He said a number of pubs had taken part in a pilot project to investigate the best techniques available to provide clean air. But in the past pubs that had made a major investment in ventilation systems found customers objected because they made the pub so cold.
The VFI also welcomed the Equal Status Act, which would allow publicans to refuse service in certain situations. "This legislation will mean that any person, regardless of what sector of society they represent, who threatens the safety or well-being of a staff member, customer or premises can be removed from the premises in the best interest of all involved," Mr Mansworth said.
rosullivan@irish-times.ie
