RA hits back at MSP over call for ban on smoking

UK hospitality groups hit back this week at a member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) who wants smoking in bars and restaurants banned.

Kenny Gibson has the support of 30 other MSPs - including six smokers - for his member's bill to ban smoking in public places where food is served. He wants to bring Scottish legislation into line with European countries such as Hungary, Slovakia and Latvia.

Ian McKerracher, chief executive of the Restaurant Association, said: "According to our research, a smoking ban [in the UK] could bring about a fall in revenue of £346m and cost over 45,000 jobs."

The figures come from calculations based on the responses of 351 restaurateurs to a postal questionnaire. The 1998 survey showed that 70% of respondents felt that non-smoking rules should be made by the restaurant itself and not imposed by the Government.

Gibson rejected the association's claims and said that tourism had increased after California and New York clamped down on smoking.

McKerracher made a fresh plea to restaurateurs to sign up to the Public Places Charter on smoking, improve their ventilation and introduce non-smoking areas.