Two years on from the smoking ban – TMA calls for review of smoking provisions

On the second anniversary of the public place smoking ban in England on 1st July, the Tobacco Manufacturers’ Association (TMA) is calling on government to give priority consideration to small businesses in the planned review of the smoking ban provisions of the Health Act.  The TMA believes there is now an economic case for potential exemptions in order to achieve a more equitable approach to the issue of public place smoking.

Christopher Ogden, Chief Executive of the TMA commented: “We are in the midst of recession and it is time to lift the legislative weight off struggling businesses and the communities they serve.  Just like the current Health Bill which proposes a ban on the display of tobacco products which will adversely affect small retailers, so the earlier smoking ban has, contrary to claims from health organisations, negatively affected thousands of people working in the hospitality sector who have lost sales, jobs and their livelihoods.  These are the facts:

•          In the last year, more than 2,200 pubs have closed and over 20,000 jobs have been lost.  [1]

•          50% of publicans have laid off staff as a direct result of the smoking ban and 75% said the legislation had been bad for business.  [2]

•          Half of the fall in beer sales has been attributed to the smoking ban.  [3]

“We are not opposed to restrictions on smoking in public places.  Smokers, however, should have available to them places where they may smoke without inconveniencing others.  The majority of EU Member States have achieved this and we hope that the UK Government will do the same”.

1. The TMA is the trade association for the following tobacco companies that operate in the UK: British American Tobacco UK Ltd (bat.com), Gallaher Ltd, a member of JTI Group (JTI.com) and Imperial Tobacco Ltd. (imperial-tobacco.com).

2. The public place smoking ban was imposed in Scotland on 26th March 2006, in Wales on 2nd April 2007 and in Northern Ireland on 30th April 2007.

3. Exemptions have been applied and smoking provisions have been provided in the majority of EU Member States as can be seen in a survey prepared by the Confederation of European Community Cigarette Manufacturers (CECCM), of which TMA is a member. Details are available on request.

[1] British Beer & Pub Association figures released in April 2009

[2] BII survey 2008, ‘Impact of the smoking ban England research report’