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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Smoking ban 'could close clubs' | Smoking ban 'could close clubs' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| One in five working men's clubs thinks it will end up closing once a smoking ban comes into force in England and Wales, a BBC survey suggests. | |
| Of the 560 clubs which responded, four out of five thought they would lose money as a result of the ban, while only 1% anticipated a rise in takings. | Of the 560 clubs which responded, four out of five thought they would lose money as a result of the ban, while only 1% anticipated a rise in takings. |
| The ban will start in Wales on 2 April and in England on 1 July. | The ban will start in Wales on 2 April and in England on 1 July. |
| Smoking will be banned in pubs, clubs and enclosed public spaces, even if the area is open only to private members. | Smoking will be banned in pubs, clubs and enclosed public spaces, even if the area is open only to private members. |
| Originally the government had been in favour of allowing smoking to continue in private clubs, but the House of Commons threw out the idea. | Originally the government had been in favour of allowing smoking to continue in private clubs, but the House of Commons threw out the idea. |
| Kevin Smyth, the general secretary of the Club and Institute Union, said the ban could force some clubs to close. | Kevin Smyth, the general secretary of the Club and Institute Union, said the ban could force some clubs to close. |
| He told BBC Radio 4 's Today programme: "Gaming permits, extra increases in licensing fees and now another set of legislation which looks as if it will almost certainly reduce the number of members coming into clubs is a great concern. | He told BBC Radio 4 's Today programme: "Gaming permits, extra increases in licensing fees and now another set of legislation which looks as if it will almost certainly reduce the number of members coming into clubs is a great concern. |
| "I can understand why a number of clubs feel this may be the straw which breaks the camel's back." | "I can understand why a number of clubs feel this may be the straw which breaks the camel's back." |
| Smoking was banned in enclosed public places in Scotland in March 2006 and was hailed as a success by First Minister Jack McConnell on the first anniversary on Monday. | Smoking was banned in enclosed public places in Scotland in March 2006 and was hailed as a success by First Minister Jack McConnell on the first anniversary on Monday. |
| "Even after one year, Scotland is a healthier place and people, both in work and at leisure, are able to avoid the atmosphere which in the past caused them health problems," he said. | "Even after one year, Scotland is a healthier place and people, both in work and at leisure, are able to avoid the atmosphere which in the past caused them health problems," he said. |
| But the BBC News poll of working men's clubs in England and Wales found that one in five thought the smoking ban would cause them to close down. | But the BBC News poll of working men's clubs in England and Wales found that one in five thought the smoking ban would cause them to close down. |
| A quarter of the clubs which took part said they thought the rules would be difficult or near-impossible to enforce. | A quarter of the clubs which took part said they thought the rules would be difficult or near-impossible to enforce. |
| People will probably get drunk and light up anyway Mark Proctor | People will probably get drunk and light up anyway Mark Proctor |
| "We do not know how we are supposed to 'police' this ban when we cater for private parties. People will probably get drunk and light up anyway," said Mark Proctor, secretary of a club in Burnley. | "We do not know how we are supposed to 'police' this ban when we cater for private parties. People will probably get drunk and light up anyway," said Mark Proctor, secretary of a club in Burnley. |
| Many representatives of the clubs said they felt it was wrong to include private bars in the ban. | Many representatives of the clubs said they felt it was wrong to include private bars in the ban. |
| PM Rawlings, the treasurer of a club in Basingstoke, said: "I feel that the government should have honoured their election manifesto to exempt private members' clubs, as for all other purposes we are not a public place." | PM Rawlings, the treasurer of a club in Basingstoke, said: "I feel that the government should have honoured their election manifesto to exempt private members' clubs, as for all other purposes we are not a public place." |
Summary of the clubs' responses:
| Summary of the clubs' responses:
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