General news - Smoking Rss news feed for Morning Advertiser

UKIP warning on smoke ban extension

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 02:39:00 GMT

The UK Independence Party (UKIP) has called for "civil disobedience" over what it says are plans to ban smoking from all public places, including beer gardens.

'No need for cig vending machine ban'

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:32:00 GMT

Late-night bars are tackling problems relating to underage entry with “excellent results” — so the Government should lay off new restrictions on cigarette sales.

Amend smoking ban, save pubs — says new campaign

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:41:00 GMT

A new cross-party campaign has called for changes to the smoking ban to help save pubs and clubs.

Woman fined for breaching smoke ban

Mon, 18 May 2009 03:51:00 GMT

A woman has been fined £100 for lighting up in a Luton pub and refusing to leave the premises.

Council stubs out Barnsley pub's smoking centre

Fri, 15 May 2009 12:55:00 GMT

Barnsley’s smoking research centre at the Cutting Edge pub in Worsbrough, has closed, following a visit from council officials.

Yorks pub beats smoking ban

Fri, 15 May 2009 07:02:00 GMT

A South Yorkshire pub has come up with crafty way to get around the smoking ban — by designating itself as a smoking research centre.

Reading votes for outdoor smoking charges

Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:57:00 GMT

Councillors in Reading have voted unanimously to implement a costly permit scheme for pubs to let customers smoke outside.

Pubs face outdoor smoking charges

Tue, 21 Apr 2009 05:42:00 GMT

Pubs and clubs in Reading may have to buy a special permit and abide by costly regulations to let people smoke outside.

SBPA slams pub fag vending machine ban plan

Tue, 07 Apr 2009 10:59:00 GMT

The Scottish Beer and Pub Association has slammed proposals to ban cigarette vending machines and force tobacco sales under the counter.

Pub cigarette vending machine suppliers face prosecution

Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:09:00 GMT

Four cigarette vending machine suppliers face prosecution over underage sales from pub machines in a landmark case.

Action on underage cig sales at pubs

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:27:00 GMT

Lancashire pubs could face prosecution for allowing under-18s to buy cigarettes from vending machines.

Pub in hot water over smoking shelter

Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:22:00 GMT

A licensee has been threatened with legal action after being told his smoking shelter is 64.8% enclosed, and he must reduce the walls by 5.1sq m.

High Court challenge to smoking ban

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 04:27:00 GMT

Smoke ban rebel Hamish Howitt's bid for the right to challenge the smoking ban on human rights grounds takes place next week.

New smoke-shelter threat to pubs

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 07:34:00 GMT

Pubs that use plants or bushes as the walls of smoking shelters face a new threat of having the structures ruled illegal.

Scots ban pub cigarette vending machines

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 07:26:00 GMT

Pubs will stop selling cigarettes and will ultimately lose customers if vending machines are banned in Scotland, according to the SBPA.

Conservative club fined for smoke ban breach

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 08:13:00 GMT

A Conservative club in Wales has been forced to cough up £5,000 in fines and costs after breaking the smoking ban.

Cig vending machines safe..for now

Tue, 09 Dec 2008 10:00:00 GMT

Government plans new ways to make access harder for children, but has not ruled out a ban in 2013 if measures fail.

MP: pubs kept in dark over chance of rates cut

Mon, 08 Dec 2008 11:29:00 GMT

The claims have been denied by the Valuation Office Agency, which says it is in close contact with the trade it's easy to seek reductions in rateable value

‘Family’ trap for underage cig sales

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:23:00 GMT

Licensees are being caught out by new-style entrapment tactics employed by trading standards officers to target underage tobacco sales.

Break smoke ban and lose your licence

Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:27:00 GMT

High Court says allowing smoking in pubs breaks the crime and disorder licensing objective in a case involving smoke rebel Hamish Howitt and Blackpool Council.

Smoke-ban rebel in High Court next month

Mon, 24 Nov 2008 03:05:00 GMT

Hamish Howitt will fight his council's bid to revoke his licence on 2 December.

Tobacco restrictions face mounting opposition

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 12:35:00 GMT

The Government may face stiff opposition over plans to introduce further controls on tobacco.

Rateable values could allow for ban

Thu, 06 Nov 2008 06:00:00 GMT

Rateable values could be reduced to take into account the smoking ban’s impact on potential trade, new guidance from the Valuation Office Agency suggests.

Jobs to go at pub gaming company

Tue, 28 Oct 2008 09:23:00 GMT

Up to 75 jobs could go at gaming machine company Bell-Fruit Group and its subsidiary Mazooma Games.

Smoke rebel host bids to be UKIP MP

Mon, 20 Oct 2008 05:11:00 GMT

Nick Hogan is to run as the UK Independence Party (UKIP) candidate for Chorley in the next election

Picture warnings on cig packets in this week

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 07:06:00 GMT

New legislation requiring picture warnings on cigarette packets comes in to force on Wednesday 1 October.

Council asks for research on street smoking ban

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 03:10:00 GMT

A Leicestershire councillor has commissioned research in to a ban on street smoking outside pubs.

Smoke ban rebel loses appeal

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 11:04:00 GMT

Smoke ban rebel licensee Nick Hogan has lost his Crown Court appeal against convictions for flouting the smoking ban.

Council planning coup for licensee on smoking area

Wed, 17 Sep 2008 11:15:00 GMT

A licensee has won a rare victory over council planners who ordered the removal of her outdoor umbrella.

Pair win right to challenge smoke ban

Wed, 10 Sep 2008 12:23:00 GMT

Two psychiatric patients have been given the go-ahead to appeal against the smoking ban at Rampton Hospital.

Government urged to shelve tobacco plans

Tue, 09 Sep 2008 06:33:00 GMT

The Tobacco Manufacturers Association has called on the Government to shelve plans to push sales under the counter — a point backed by the BII.

Vending machine ban could break pubs

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:53:00 GMT

A massive 74% of licensees believe the smoking ban has been bad for business — a damning statistic that could become worse if cigarette vending machines are banned.

Pub shelter scuppered by screws

Wed, 03 Sep 2008 09:10:00 GMT

A licensee is ordered to remove his smoking shelter because the seven screws fastening it to the ground mean it needs planning permission.

Smoke-drift curbs outdoor drinking at pub

Fri, 22 Aug 2008 08:13:00 GMT

A pub was denied a licence for outdoor drinking after residents said cigarette smoke would drift into their bedroom.

MP barred pub for smoke ban support

Fri, 15 Aug 2008 11:56:00 GMT

A Greater Manchester licensee has barred his local MP, David Heyes, from drinking in his pub for voting for the smoking ban after seeing half his trade disappear.

Outside smoking banned at pub

Thu, 14 Aug 2008 10:30:00 GMT

A licensee has been ordered to refuse service to customers who smoke on the street outside her pub.

Pub managers fined for flouting smoke ban

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 07:26:00 GMT

A licensee couple in Milton Keynes have been fined for flouting the smoking ban after police checked CCTV footage at the pub and found evidence of smoking – the pair were left £1,800 out of pocket.

Smokers forced to pay out £550 for dropping fag butts

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 11:58:00 GMT

Two men in Nottingham have been hit with fines and costs of over £550 for dropping cigarette butts.

German High Court rules against smoke ban

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 12:36:00 GMT

Germany's High Court has ruled the country's smoking ban is unlawful as it discriminates against small, one-roomed pubs.

MP calls for smoke ban exemptions

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:46:00 GMT

Health Secretary Alan Johnson has defended the smoking ban after an MP lodged a petition calling for partial exemptions for pubs.

Devon licensee fined for flouting smoke ban

Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:46:00 GMT

A Devon licensee has been fined £130 plus costs for flouting the smoking ban.

Welsh culture minister quits over flouting smoke ban

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 08:07:00 GMT

The Welsh culture minister has resigned after flouting the smoking ban in a Welsh pub.

£8,000 pay-out for smoke ban breach

Mon, 14 Jul 2008 09:10:00 GMT

A Norfolk licensee couple have been forced to pay out more than £8,000 in fines and costs for flouting the smoking ban.

Councils to target noisy pubs

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:00:00 GMT

"Potential" noise is public nuisance

LGA calls for ban on cig machines

Thu, 10 Jul 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Council leaders have backed Government calls for a total ban on coin-operated cigarette vending machines. It comes after a six-month test purchase operation that found children were able to buy cigarettes from machines on 40% of occasions. Some councils reported a 100% failure rate. The..

Pubs braced for barrage of noise complaint fines

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 07:20:00 GMT

Pubs are bracing themselves for a fresh crackdown on noise levels emanating from people smoking outside after councils were issued new guidance on how to deal with noise complaints.

Alcohol volumes down 8% post-ban

Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:00:00 GMT

But the health of bar staff has improved

Gov hails smoke ban success

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 10:20:00 GMT

The Government has hailed the smoking ban a success on its anniversary with 98% of all premises complying with the law and 76% of people supporting the ban.

No need for smoking police

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:27:00 GMT

Predictions of smoking police to enforce the ban proved wide of the mark, according to a council leader.

Council leaders call for cigarette vending machine ban

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 10:59:00 GMT

Call comes after a 50% rise in test purchase failure rates

Smoke ban: 175m fewer pints drunk

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 07:55:00 GMT

On-trade alcohol volumes fell 8% in the nine months to March 2008

Smoke ban gets trade thumbs down

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 07:20:00 GMT

But public like smoke-free pubs one year on – exclusive research

Ban hits pub operators: half see profits dip 6%+

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 07:03:00 GMT

Survey of 1,300 pubs reveals the impact the ban has had on trade

Ban gets trade thumbs down

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT

But public like smoke-free pubs one year on

Now the smoke has cleared

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT

The smoking ban forced many licensees to think seriously about the facilities their pub provides. Kelly Smith finds out which solutions have worked the best

Joxer Brady's, Stafford

With no beer garden, Marston's tenants Sam Swift and Chyrell Standish decided to look at..

An open and shut case

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT

MA legal editor Peter Coulson and Poppleston Allen partner Graham Cushion give their assessments on how the law has been observed, what difficulties have arisen and what problems lie ahead

Simon Emeny, MD, Fuller's Inns

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT

What are the upsides of the ban? Good managers and tenants identified ahead of time that they needed to change their offer and provide the customer with more reasons to visit, and those pubs have continued to prosper. What are the downsides? The impact of the ban is difficult to..

John McNamara, chief executive, BII

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT

What are the upsides of the ban? A smoke-free, pleasant atmosphere; more alfresco eating areas; better enjoyment of food; less mess, plus socialising and "smirting"! What are the downsides? Of the UK population 23% smoke, but in some of our members' pubs some 40% of customers smoked; the..

Mike Benner, chief executive, Campaign for Real Ale

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT

What are the upsides of the ban? Pubs smell, look and feel cleaner. No one really liked smoke in pubs, even the smokers. The ban has driven operators to reassess the pub experience and this has, of course, led to improved amenities, in outside areas, kitchens and menus. What are the..

Ban hits ALMR: half see profits dip 6%+

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Wet sales and AWP income hit worst

Blood on the smoking shelter floor

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT

As pubs, bars and clubs start to put the shutters up with alarming regularity, Adam Edwards reveals the details of his one-man protest over the nanny-state antics of New Labour

Smoke ban must be enforced more robustly

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 07:45:00 GMT

The smoking ban must be enforced more "robustly", according to a Northern Ireland minister

Smoke rebel Howitt fined again

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 06:25:00 GMT

Smoke rebel Hamish Howitt has been fined once again for flouting the smoking ban

Give us your views on the smoking ban

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 07:56:00 GMT

MA wants to know how the first year of the ban has been for you

Premium Bars & Restaurants: Smoke ban taking toll

Tue, 17 Jun 2008 07:49:00 GMT

Premium Bars and Restaurants says like-for-like sales down 5%

Smoke rebels to stand in by-election

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 12:36:00 GMT

Hamish Howitt and Nick Hogan are to run against David Davis in the Hull by-election

Pub closures hit north-west

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:12:00 GMT

The industrialised region of north-west is struggling with the smoking ban

Ban prompts 20% to visit pubs less often

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT

One in five people visit pubs less frequently than they thought they would due to the smoking ban. And two out of three consumers normally drink at home rather than in pubs. Those are the downbeat findings of a new survey of 987 adults across the country by the business advisory firm Deloitte.

Pub visits drop after smoke ban

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 07:03:00 GMT

Deloitte survey shows one in five visit pub less frequently

Profits double at Pubs 'n' Bars

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 07:30:00 GMT

But operator warns that that the smoking ban has taken its toll across its 106-strong estate

Tough proposals on cig machines

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Electronic ID card to buy fags in pubs

Majority in favour of greater tobacco control

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 11:31:00 GMT

Anti-smoke campaigners claim the majority of people are in support of greater controls on tobacco

Tough alternatives to fag vending machine ban

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 03:51:00 GMT

Tough measures to stop sales to children are proposed as an alternative to an outright ban on cigarette vending machines

Pub cigarette machines face ban

Mon, 02 Jun 2008 06:20:00 GMT

Vending machines face ban and sales could be forced under counter

Licensee’s smoking marquee must go

Fri, 30 May 2008 12:12:00 GMT

A struggling licensee has been ordered to take down his £1,200 smoking shelter because he didn't have planning permission

Government plans ban on cig machines

Thu, 29 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT

The Government is poised to announce plans to ban pub cigarette-vending machines. A smoking consultation will be launched on Saturday, a Department of Health spokesman confirmed. Newspaper reports say a vending machine ban will be alongside other measures such as forcing cigarettes to be kept..

Licensee's smoking marquee must go

Thu, 29 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Always check planning permission, hosts told

Council backs off from litter threat

Thu, 29 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT

A Surrey council that threatened to force hosts to clear up cigarette butts outside their pubs says it has taken no formal action. Earlier this year Reigate & Banstead Borough Council threatened to issue street- litter control notices where discarded butts are a problem within 100m of a pub.

MP: Smoking ban has alienated Labour's support

Wed, 28 May 2008 11:25:00 GMT

Backbencher Brian Iddon hits out over raft of measures hitting public like smoking ban and alcohol duty rises

Tobacco licence system for Scotland

Tue, 27 May 2008 08:08:00 GMT

Pubs in Scotland wishing to sell cigarettes will have to apply for a licence under new proposals - and England is set to follow suit

Fear & smoking in Mayfair

Thu, 22 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT

An environmental health boss says fear of being attacked can be used as a defence for not upholding the smoking ban. Ian Gray, principal policy officer at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, gave the advice in a written statement to magistrates. Gray was called as a witness by..

High Court rules in favour of smoke ban

Wed, 21 May 2008 07:21:00 GMT

Judge rules in favour of the ban in High Court human rights test case

West looks to Cherie Blair for smoke ban appeal

Thu, 15 May 2008 12:46:00 GMT

Smoke rebel Dave West plans to employ Cherie Blair to fight his appeal against Westminster council

West guilty of smoke ban breach

Thu, 15 May 2008 09:30:00 GMT

Smoke rebel Dave West has been hit with costs and fines of nearly £8,000 for flouting the ban

Smoke ban battle gets underway today

Wed, 14 May 2008 07:09:00 GMT

The long awaited showdown between smoke ban rebel Dave West and Westminster council gets underway today

38 pubs and clubs breach Irish smoke ban

Mon, 12 May 2008 12:40:00 GMT

There were 43 breaches of the smoking ban in Ireland last year – including 38 at pubs, bars or clubs

Smoke ban creates opportunity for wine

Fri, 09 May 2008 10:38:00 GMT

A survey of wine lists at venues across the UK has shown that many are not giving customers enough choice

N Ireland licensees: restrict cheap deals

Thu, 08 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Trade chief points to draft N Ireland law

High Court rules against banks' penalty charges

Thu, 01 May 2008 12:00:00 GMT

OFT could now ask High Court for decision

NI: 7% of pubs expected to close

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 08:30:00 GMT

Trade body predicts more closures on smoke ban anniversary

Smoke ban noise complaints on the rise

Wed, 30 Apr 2008 06:29:00 GMT

The smoking ban has led to a rise in noise complaints

Survey: 8% of smokers attempted to quit after ban

Tue, 29 Apr 2008 06:24:00 GMT

Cancer Research says more regulation still needed to prohibit accessibility including vending machine ban

£5k bill for smoke rebel

Thu, 24 Apr 2008 12:00:00 GMT

An Oxfordshire licensee has been hit with fines and costs of £5,765 after flouting the smoking ban. Gerry Stonhill, of the Masons Arms in South Leigh, was fined £1,500 for failing to prevent smoking on three occasions, £200 for not displaying the correct signage and £50 for smoking himself.

Lancaster licensee fined for smoke ban breach

Wed, 23 Apr 2008 11:13:00 GMT

A Lancaster licensee has been fined £100 and ordered to pay costs of £250 for failing to prevent a customer smoking

Hackers attack anti-smoke ban website

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 02:14:00 GMT

Hackers redirected the website of anti-smoking ban group Freedom2Choose to the NHS Smokefree site two weekends ago

Johnson: No power to hold referundum on smoke ban

Mon, 21 Apr 2008 06:26:00 GMT

Conservative London mayoral candidate Boris Johnson has admitted he does not have the power to have a referendum on the smoking ban

Smoke rebel can't be DPS at own pub

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 12:00:00 GMT

Blackpool host "broke licensing objectives"

Oxfordshire host hit with smoking ban fine

Wed, 16 Apr 2008 04:28:00 GMT

An Oxfordshire licensee has been hit with fines and costs of £5,765 after flouting the smoking ban

Rebel Howitt barred from DPS role

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 01:18:00 GMT

Rebel Howitt banned from being DPS at his pub for flouting the smoke ban

Rebel Howitt wins fight to keep pub open

Thu, 10 Apr 2008 07:45:00 GMT

Smoke rebel Hamish Howitt has won his fight to keep his Blackpool pub open