Tobacco.org

Delight over smoking ban 

SIX months on and the smoking ban has been hailed a success by the States.

But those who opposed the move are still resentful. Environmental Health director John Cook said the level of compliance had been tremendous and feedback had been good. ‘We’re delighted the ban seems to have been met with a positive response. From a public health viewpoint, we are clearly delighted the public self is being protected.’ He said there had been few reports of people breaking the new legislation. Those included one complaint that someone had lit up inside a pub and another report that one establishment’s outside shelter did not meet regulations. Mr Cook said the licensees in both cases dealt with the complaints immediately.

Jump to full article »

Guernsey | Smoker is assaulted outside pub 

A man stood smoking outside a pub in Guernsey has been assaulted.

Police said the man was knocked to the ground after being punched in the face outside the Golden Lion pub on Market Street, St Peter Port.

Officers are unsure of the motive behind the assault which happened around midnight on Boxing Day. . . .

Smokers have taken to the streets to light-up after it was made illegal to smoke in enclosed public spaces in Guernsey from July.

Jump to full article »

Guernsey | Parking ban follows smoking ban 

Parking will be banned in the a Guernsey street on Friday night in an experiment designed to improve safety.

The Environment Department says there have been more people gathering in the Lower Pollet since the smoking ban.

Some have been spilling into the road between parked cars, creating potential danger for themselves.

Jump to full article »

England to follow us on smoke ban 

ENGLAND will follow Guernsey’s lead by banning smoking in enclosed public places from 1 July, the UK Government has announced.

The ban covers virtually all enclosed public places including offices, factories, pubs and bars. It follows similar bans in Ireland and Scotland. A ban in Wales comes in on 2 April and Jersey is also set to introduce a law next summer. Ministers say it will protect everyone from passive smoking, but opponents say the total ban is ‘draconian’. From 1 July, pubs and restaurants will have to display prominent no-smoking signs.

Jump to full article »

• Smoking Ban 

MATRIX Chambers, the law firm of which the Prime Minister’s wife, Cherie Blair, is a member, is helping smoking ban protesters mount a legal challenge. . . .

Hotelier and restaurateur Tony Gover said that the Gray’s Inn-based firm would write up the case and five grounds for challenge had been identified.

‘This ban has been disastrous to Guernsey and is killing the visitor trade,’ he said.

He claimed 64 pubs in Scotland had closed because of the ban and four local ones were ‘definitely’ going to do likewise.

As a hotelier, he said he had 38 documents signed by visitors saying they would not come back here because of the ban.

Jump to full article »

Guernsey | Pubs to stage smoke ban protest 

Publicans are to stage a protest march against Guernsey's smoking ban.

Smoking in enclosed public spaces became illegal in the island at the start of July, following a decision by the States.

Landlords say the ban has resulted in a reduction in trade and increased the amount of litter on the streets.

Organisers of the 17 September march around St Peter Port said they were calling for a "total recall of the ban" by politicians.

Peter Leigh, landlord of the Hampshire Lodge Hotel, said: "We are totally against it and want it to be shelved."

Jump to full article »

Smoke ban’s here to stay’ 

ANTI-smoking campaigners say licensees need to accept that the ban is here to stay.

Guernsey Adolescent Smoke-free Project chairman Alun Williams said he was concerned that the real reason for it – which was to improve the health of the island, especially its youngsters – had been lost in the anecdotal evidence of bar sales reported by a few licensees. ‘We have heard the complaints of some pub owners about poor takings as a direct result of the ban and we note that it is those same pub owners who always opposed the ban who are most vocal now. ‘The reality is that smoking bans will shortly be in place in both our neighbours – England and, to a lesser extent, France – and we must now all move forward and adapt to the new reality of smoking being unacceptable in public.’

Jump to full article »

Guernsey | Row sparked over smoke ban claims 

An anti-smoking group claims statistics are being misused to create a negative image of the smoking ban in Guernsey.

The Guernsey Adolescent Smoke-free Project (Gasp) fears the true purpose of the ban is being lost as pub landlords complain about business.

Since the July ban, some publicans have reported a 20% drop in trade and some say they will be forced to close.

Jump to full article »

‘Four pubs and a club doomed by smoking ban’ 

AT LEAST four pubs and a nightclub will close in the next 12 months, predicts Tony Gover.

Trade is being hit by the smoking ban, according to the hotel, restaurant and pub owner.

‘The pub trade has been lied to and the people of Guernsey are still being lied to. Everything’s not all right, the ban isn’t successful and people are losing serious money.’

Mr Gover’s takings have gone down by as much as 35% and he has had to shed staff.

Jump to full article »

Staff happy after first month of ban 

THE smoking ban is one month old and pub staff are enjoying their improved working environment.

Regardless of any effect on trade, they have noticed a big change in their surroundings.

‘You notice the difference big-time. My clothes don’t stink and the air is fresh. It was the best idea, especially for barmen.’ said The Library Bar acting manager Eric Bucher.

The positive feedback from bar staff in Town came as no surprise to head of environmental health John Cook.

Jump to full article »

‘Ban has not hit home yet’ 

ANTI-smoking ban campaigner Peter Leigh says the new law will face its biggest challenge at the weekend.

Mr Leigh, who is president of Support Our Smokers and also the Guernsey Licensed Victuallers’ Association, said it would be especially telling in Town and the nightclubs. The ban came into force on Sunday morning and has not yet seen a full weekend. Mr Leigh said the forthcoming one could see problems. ‘Even if 'Deputy Peter' Roffey’s suggestion that 20% of the island smokes, that is more than 200 people wanting to come out 'of clubs' for a cigarette every night.’

Jump to full article »

‘Ban is crippling business’ 

BAR owner Tony Gover said that the smoking ban is already ruining his business.

‘On Sunday, one of our places had the worst day of takings that it has ever had,’ he said. ‘Everybody is decimated already. It’s turning out much worse than anybody thought. There has been a massive effect in some of our places with a downward trend appearing already.’ Mr Gover owns the Wayside Cheer Tavern, the Vazon Bay Hotel, the Steakhouse Bar and the Golden Lion. He said that the reduced number of customers could not be blamed on the good weather.

Jump to full article »

Smoking ban proves popular with punters 

GUERNSEY went smoke-free yesterday – and liked it.

The ban on smoking in all enclosed public spaces and workplaces came into force at 4am.

Throughout the day pub and restaurant-goers adapted well with smokers happily sitting out in the sunshine, diners enjoying smoke-free meals and barmen and waiters reporting no major problems.

And the benefits to tourism were already apparent, with visitors praising the island for becoming the first British jurisdiction after Scotland to impose the ban.

Jump to full article »

‘Ban has not hit home yet’ 

ANTI-smoking ban campaigner Peter Leigh says the new law will face its biggest challenge at the weekend.

Mr Leigh, who is president of Support Our Smokers and also the Guernsey Licensed Victuallers’ Association, said it would be especially telling in Town and the nightclubs.

The ban came into force on Sunday morning and has not yet seen a full weekend. Mr Leigh said the forthcoming one could see problems.

‘Even if 'Deputy Peter' Roffey’s suggestion that 20% of the island smokes, that is more than 200 people wanting to come out 'of clubs' for a cigarette every night.’

Jump to full article »

• Smoking ban proves popular with punters 

GUERNSEY went smoke-free yesterday – and liked it.

Garry Fry, Rob Ashbridge and, standing, Dave Robb have a smoke outside the Ship and Crown. (Picture by Daniel Guerin, 0325524)

The ban on smoking in all enclosed public spaces and workplaces came into force at 4am.

Throughout the day pub and restaurant-goers adapted well with smokers happily sitting out in the sunshine, diners enjoying smoke-free meals and barmen and waiters reporting no major problems.

Jump to full article »