Hospitality body fuming over size of smoking fines: occupational health

The British Hospitality Association (BHA) has raised concerns about the size of fines employers will face if their customers flout England’s forthcoming smoking ban.

The employers’ body was a strong supporter of the complete ban on smoking in public places, but fears some of the detail of the regulations, which are to be published later this year – including a potential 2,500 fine for employers if customers are caught smoking on the premises.

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“This hardly compares with a maximum 50 fine for a guilty smoker,” said BHA chief executive, Bob Cotton.

“The sensible answer would be to follow the example of Ireland, where the publican has to ring an official number to report that he has made every effort to stop people smoking,” he said.