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Readers' letters
The Smoking in pub debate continues, as demonstrated by this selection of the many letters received on the subject.
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'As a smoker, I have absolutely no problem with others, who may not like cigarette smoke. But let's not forget that a third of the population still puff away. So far, I have never seen any figures that show what percentage of current pub-goers smoke, how many would stop going if they were relegated to a small area and how many non-smokers would start visiting pubs if this happened. Without reliable research, any suggestions on how to deal with this are meaningless.'
Mick Lewis, by e-mail
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'Greetings from Dodgeville, Wisconsin, USA. Last week at a pub just off of Russell Square in London I picked up a copy of your publication, "The Full Pint", issue No. 11, August, 2001. I like the idea and found it interesting.
You asked for comment on the question of restricting smoking in pubs in the UK. I absolutely agree with you. I am a life-long non-smoker and a member of a local organization that is working to reduce smoking, particularly among young people, in my area. It is just a guess on my part, but it seems that at least twice as many people smoke in the UK as in my part of the USA.
We have a lot more laws restricting smoking and the sale of tobacco. In the State of Wisconsin the legal age to be able to buy tobacco products is 18. I note that in the UK it is 16. So far, most of our anti-smoking laws are aimed at public places, buildings, restaurants, hotels, etc., and a majority of public places are NON– SMOKING. The big exception are places that also sell alcoholic beverages. It seems to be very difficult to enact legislation in the USA to limit smoking in bars and taverns. The term "Pub" is pretty much a British term, we use the term "Tavern". People like to think that beer and cigarettes go together.
Bill Boyer, by e-mail
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I heard Iain Loe on Radio 5 yesterday (22nd January) and whilst I naturally agreed with his sentiments aired, the comments of the callers afterwards showed what a lot of work is still required to get CAMRA's message across.
I have to agree however with what many people gave as a reason for not visiting pubs anymore, namely the smoky atmosphere and few landlords seem to have the nerve to do anything about it.
I reluctantly visited my local on Sunday afternoon (reluctantly because the only real ale is Boddingtons) and the area that was ironically once a no smoking zone for a short period of time, was a mass of chain smokers creating an extremely unhealthy environment. With the creeping lack of interest in a lot of pub goers of the source in which their alcohol intake is contained, coupled with the unacceptability of smoking in other public places, if we're not careful the small street corner local pubs could just become smoking emporiums with any beer served being of an insignificance.
I suppose another viewpoint could be argued that smokers' custom may well be the only hope for some 'back street boozers' and at least this will keep them open. The sale of cask-conditioned ale only, certainly won't?
Mike Starkey
Reproduced from the Full Pint, Issue 12.
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