Smoking ban causing problems outside pubs

Police in Devon and Cornwall have threatened to shut down pubs that fail to control customers smoking outside. Officers say there are problems with customers taking drinks outside in local no-alcohol zones.

They also complain that people are blocking the streets, particularly at the weekend. Licensees were warned of the police concerns at a recent pubwatch meeting and some pubs were sent individual letters.

Inspector Dave Scott said: “It’s a very serious problem and we’re prepared to take serious action against landlords that fail to control smokers.

“We had an awful weekend, people were standing in the middle of the road and blocking traffic - there was immense potential for crime and disorder. It was a threatening atmosphere, pedestrians and motorists passing through the main area of the town were badly affected.

“Pubs with no proper smoking area are the biggest problem - they must put measures in place to stop people bringing their drinks outside.”

Nancy Thomas, of Nancy’s Pub in Falmouth town centre, said: “I’m sympathetic to the police, they’ve got a lot to deal with but it’s very difficult to control people outside when you’re behind the bar. There’s a lot trouble outside my pub and the people causing it are not necessarily my customers.”

Morning Advertiser - see also the comments following the article

Comments

[Paul Bartlett]

How many pubs have closed in UK snce the smoking ban and whichi is blamed onm the Ban

See: www.stony stratford smoking ban

[Sarah]

The Littlehampton Gazette newspaper in West Sussex, has published a series of articles about pubs closing down in the town.
It's readers have been writing in blaming the smoking ban.

[Emiliy Scantlebury]

There is a solution - the Review procedure! We have similar problems in Westminster - so local residents used the Review procedure a couple of weeks ago and I am pleased to report that a raft of conditions were imposed on the offending premises' licence - including restricted off-sales, prohibition of nearly all outside drinking and a clearing of the remaining outdoor area by 9pm on weeknights and 10pm on weekends. So no more crowds outside, smoking or otherwise. For more details please see www.licensingadvice.org/news