Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Latest NewsSmoking in the workplaceWellbeing

Pub smoking ban will leave northern workers at risk

by Ross Bentley 12 May 2005
by Ross Bentley 12 May 2005

Plans to ban smoking in pubs that serve food will discriminate against people living in the North and Midlands doctors’ leaders say.

The British Medical Association warned that plans to ban smoking only in pubs that serve food could lead to further health inequalities across England.

It studied 29 areas and found nine of the 10 with the most non-food pubs were in northern England or the Midlands.

The BMA contacted a sample of metropolitan, city and London borough councils in England for the survey, asking them how many pubs in their areas did not prepare and serve food on their premises.

Of the 29 areas that responded, they found wide variation, which appeared to be regional.

In Leeds, for example, 88% of pubs were aimed at drinkers and not diners, but 95% of pubs in Bromley, London, would have to introduce a ban.
The BMA says its survey undermined the government’s claims that only 10-30% of pubs do not serve prepared food.

Dr Vivienne Nathanson, the BMA’s head of science and ethics, questioned how the government planned to implement its smoke-free proposals without knowing the full situation.

“Just as the burden of smoking falls heavily on the poorest, so does the burden of passive smoking,” she said.

“While the professional classes work in smoke-free offices, low-paid, casual and service workers work in smoky environments, risking lung cancer to make a living.”

The White Paper on Public Health, published last November, also plans to make most enclosed public areas, including offices and factories, smoke-free.

Ian Foulkes, director of policy at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, said: “We believe that the only method of protecting workers in indoor environments from the effects of tobacco is for all workplaces to be smoke-free.

“It is also our view that the government’s proposals will be totally unenforceable.”

A Department of Health spokeswoman said: “The proposal in the White Paper to make smoke-free bars and pubs that prepare and serve food was based on many factors.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

“Public opinion was crucial to the decision and showed that the public was far less supportive of measures to make all bars and pubs smoke-free.

“We will be consulting further on the proposal in the White Paper before legislation goes to Parliament, and we will look carefully at all the evidence put forward – including that from the British Medical Association.”

Ross Bentley

previous post
Research reveals home working drawbacks
next post
All options open for pension reform

You may also like

Postmasters could take ownership of Post Office

14 Jul 2025

Ethnicity and disability pay gaps: Ready to report?...

14 Jul 2025

Manager dismissed after covert recording with HR wins...

14 Jul 2025

Food sector warned it is facing a workforce...

14 Jul 2025

Gregg Wallace investigation: 45 allegations upheld

14 Jul 2025

Black TV professionals’ experiences of racism are rife,...

14 Jul 2025

Steep reduction in recruitment in June

14 Jul 2025

Two-thirds drink to cope with work stress and...

14 Jul 2025

Why online training won’t help reduce sexual harassment

14 Jul 2025

Three-quarters more likely to stay with employer who...

14 Jul 2025

  • Empower and engage for the future: A revolution in talent development (webinar) WEBINAR | As organisations strive...Read more
  • Empowering working parents and productivity during the summer holidays SPONSORED | Businesses play a...Read more
  • AI is here. Your workforce should be ready. SPONSORED | From content creation...Read more

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+