A LANDLORD has criticised the smoking ban for damaging the pub trade, nearly ten years after the ban came into force.

Dave Howells, landlord at the Liden Arms in Barrington Close, slammed the ban, which will ring in its 10th anniversary on July 1 this year, for ‘taking away freedom of choice’

He said: “The ban has affected the pub trade, particular wet pubs, which only serve drinks and not food. It has stabilised now but we saw a significant downturn just after it happened. It feels like a nanny state

“I feel like if you are 18, you are old enough to make the decision for yourself whether you want to go into an establishment where people smoke. You can make that decision not to do that if you disagree with smoking.

“You can drive a car at 18, you can serve in the armed forces and risk your life at 18 but the freedom of choice to decide where you go if you’re a smoker has been taken away with the smoking ban.”

But Dave, who has worked in the pub trade for more than 25 years and is a smoker, said he could see the positive aspects to the ban, even if he didn’t agree with it.

“I can see who it has benefited, and that’s the younger generation. If the ban was lifted today I am sure a lot of people would say, how horrid,” he said.

Dave also said a change in drinking culture had contributed to the decline of the pub trade

He said: “It’s the smoking ban together with the supermarkets selling real ale that has affected us.

“If you’re a smoker and you have £20 which will buy three pints and a packet of fags, would you come to a pub where you know you have to smoke all your cigarettes outside and spend all your money.

“No, you’ll go home where you can smoke in the warm and still have cigarettes and beer left the next day.”

“Supermarkets are selling beer for a pound a can, there’s just no way we can compete with that.”

The smoking ban in England came into force on July 1 2007. This made it illegal to smoke in workplaces and enclosed public spaces. It was done due to fears over the dangers of passive smoking or exposure to second – hand smoke.

Andy Marcer, who heads up the Beehive, in Prospect Hill said the pub also saw an immediate downturn in trade in the ban’s aftermath.

He said: “Right after it happened we lost some of our regulars straightaway. We also saw around a 10 to 15 per cent dip in sales. Since then it has levelled out but it hit us hard to begin with

“I think if you’re a pub that serves food as well as alcohol then you’re less likely to be hit by it.”

Last year major research suggested heart attacks had fallen by up to 42 per cent since the introduction of the ban.

To help kick the habit, Swindon Borough Council runs the Swindon Stop Smoking Service. GPs and pharmacies across the borough, also offer expert one-to-one advice and practical guidance as well as nicotine replacement options.

For more information call the Live Well Swindon hub on 01793 465513 or email: livewell@swindon.gov.uk or livewellswindon@nhs.net