Sports and leisure business join calls for total smoking ban

The UK’s largest leisure and sport businesses have condemned the government’s partial smoking ban as inconsistent and confusing.

Business in Sport and Leisure (BISL), which represents Whitbread, Hilton, Gala and British Sky Broadcasting, said the UK needs a total ban on smoking in the workplace when the legislation is implemented in 2010.

The group said a total ban was necessary to prevent customers moving to venues where smoking was still permitted.

“What industry needs is clarity, consistency and a level playing field. The government is not giving us any of those things.” said Neil Goulden, BISL chairman and chief executive of betting operator Gala.

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The British Hospitality Association has also attacked the proposals as impossible to implement.

Chief executive Bob Cotton said a total ban was the only option.