Licensees are worried about economic effects

A survey by Licensed Victuallers Wales (LVW) said 29% of premises could close, with almost 20% more laying off staff.

The Smoking Out the Truth report will be sent to all Welsh assembly members, as they continue to debate a ban.

On Wednesday, Rhondda AM Leighton Andrews will call for an economic study of a potential ban.

The assembly does not have the power to ban smoking in public at present, but voted in favour of one in 2003.

Earlier this month, a committee of AMs recommended the assembly should press for powers to ban smoking in public places.

Members heard evidence from organisations on both sides of the debate, and also visited Ireland to see the effects of its smoking ban.

The British Medical Association in Wales claimed that evidence showed that passive smoking increased the risk of lung cancer in non smokers by 20-30%.

Two Welsh politicians, Cardiff North MP Julie Morgan and the cross-bench peer Baroness Finlay of Llandaff, have already put smoking bills for Wales before the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Mr Andrews will call for research into a ban

Although neither bill succeeded, both aimed to change the law to give the Welsh assembly the power to bring in its own smoking ban if it wished.

Licensees have become increasingly concerned about the potential impact a ban could have on their businesses.

The LVW report said 67% of licensees estimated that between half and all of their regulars were smokers, so businesses were strongly geared towards them.

According to the survey, 12% of licensees made more than half of their income from sales of food, while 35% served no food at all.

"This paints a picture of the type of pub we have in Wales," said John Price, secretary of LVW.

"They are very much social centres for the community. It is ridiculous to argue that they should diversify and sell more food.

"There is no demand for thousands more restaurants. There is still demand for friendly locals, but these will shut if they turn their smoking regulars away."

Alternatives discussed

LVW - which represents the interests of licensees in Wales - has proposed that all licensed premises should ban smoking at the bar servery, in places where food is served, and in at least one room in multi-room premises.

Meanwhile, a poll conducted for smokers' lobby group Forest has found that 70% of people living in Wales supported the introduction of new smoking legislation.

But, when offered alternatives other than a blanket ban, 65% said they believed smokers should be allowed to continue to smoke in some areas of licensed premises, with 34% favouring an outright ban.

Forest director Simon Clark said even non-smokers believed that the hospitality industry should be allowed to regulate itself.

He said: "The Welsh support a reasonable, rational, middle way, and are opposed to sweeping proposals that would leave smokers nowhere to smoke in public".

BMA reaction

A poll in Ireland earlier this year showed 93% of people thought that the introduction of a smoking ban in 2004 was a good idea, including 80% of smokers.

However, the Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI) said pubs, particularly in rural areas, had been hit with turnover down on average between 20 and 30%.

But Dr Tony Calland, of the British Medical Assocation Wales, defended the prospect of a smoking ban.

He said a recent survey showed that 30 people a day die in the UK due to illnesses related to passive smoking.

"People who smoke in enclosed areas are poisoning people who have to be there and do not smoke," he said.