No place for “cancer rooms” in pubs
No place for 'cancer rooms' in pubs
The TUC has welcomed indications from the Cabinet this week that the government will agree to ban smoking in all pubs - whether or not they serve food - but is calling on ministers not to attempt a new compromise such as allowing pubs to have 'cancer rooms' where drinks are not served but patrons can light up. TUC general secretary Brendan Barber said: 'We very much welcome the news that the Cabinet is likely to scrap the unhappy compromise of allowing pubs that do not sell food to allow smoking.' He added: 'Ministers deserve credit for listening to unions and health campaigners who have said that all staff and customers should be protected from secondhand smoke. This will save up to fifty lives a year. A ban on smoking in workplaces will go down as both a great health and safety advance and a public health breakthrough.' He said, however, that there should be no loopholes, and said the government should avoid another last minute compromise where pubs would be allowed to have smoking rooms. 'Staff will still have to clear and clean cancer rooms, and it cannot be guaranteed that smoke will not leak into the rest of a pub,' he said. He added that members' clubs should not be excluded from the new law.
- TUC news release and briefing on the Health Improvement and Protection Bill from TUC and ASH. The Observer.
- Hazards smoking news and resources.
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