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Monday, 20 March 2006, 19:46 GMT

Smoking advice for city bar staff

No smoking sign A step by step guide for bar staff on how to deal with difficult customers who flout the forthcoming smoking ban has been issued in Glasgow.

The ban comes into force at 0600 GMT on Sunday 26 March and the guidance explains the new legislation.

It offers advice on how to deal with persistent smokers by refusing service or asking them to leave the premises.

The guide has been issued by NHS Greater Glasgow and Glasgow City Council in response to demand.

Lisa Buck, senior health promotion officer, said: "The demand from employees for help to stop smoking is huge at the moment."

Alastair Ewing, principal officer with environmental protection services, added: "Calling Time on Smoking provides bar workers with useful contact numbers and a step by step flow chart for dealing with difficult customers."

"We're now being the frontline enforcement officers and I don't think that's what was intended originally"
Alistair Don
Scottish Licensed Trade Association


Tips for helping bars to prepare for the smoking ban include having no smoking signs in place and removing ashtrays.

The guide advises bar staff to draw customers' attention to no smoking signs and show them outside.

If a smoker refuses, bar staff are told to explain why the smoking ban is in place.

If that fails the customer is refused service and ultimately asked to leave.

Mr Ewing was not prepared to discuss whether the council expected staff to help it enforce the ban.

Alistair Don, from the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said the council wanted bar staff to become unpaid enforcers.

Criminal offence

"They don't want to face the confrontation but expect our staff to face the confrontation," he said.

"I think it's totally unfair - we're now being the frontline enforcement officers and I don't think that's what was intended originally.

"In fact the health minister said we would not be subject to enforcement, it would be environmental health that would be handling this."

Failure to comply with the law will be a criminal offence.

Smokers may be fined £50 for lighting up in smoke-free premises.

Businesses could be fined £200 for allowing patrons to smoke.



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Health at Work
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