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| Warnings for smoking ban breaches | Warnings for smoking ban breaches |
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| More than 25 breaches in the smoking ban have been reported by councils across Wales in the last five weeks, a BBC survey has discovered. | More than 25 breaches in the smoking ban have been reported by councils across Wales in the last five weeks, a BBC survey has discovered. |
| Several written warnings have been issued since the ban was brought in on 2 April, however no fixed penalty notices have yet been handed out. | Several written warnings have been issued since the ban was brought in on 2 April, however no fixed penalty notices have yet been handed out. |
| Officers at Powys council said they had visited 464 premises and issued 11 written warnings. | Officers at Powys council said they had visited 464 premises and issued 11 written warnings. |
| However, some businesses have said the ban has led to a drop in profits. | However, some businesses have said the ban has led to a drop in profits. |
| Responding to the BBC Wales survey, a spokesman for Blaenau Gwent said five warnings had been written, while Pembrokeshire and Neath Port Talbot officers have each issued four written warnings. | Responding to the BBC Wales survey, a spokesman for Blaenau Gwent said five warnings had been written, while Pembrokeshire and Neath Port Talbot officers have each issued four written warnings. |
| We have lost about 11% of our turnover and about 3% of our customers at the moment Nigel Griffiths | We have lost about 11% of our turnover and about 3% of our customers at the moment Nigel Griffiths |
| Torfaen council said it had visited 490 premises and was investigating "a small number" of breaches, while Merthyr reported two breaches. | Torfaen council said it had visited 490 premises and was investigating "a small number" of breaches, while Merthyr reported two breaches. |
| Cardiff council said it had visited 842 premises but did not report any breaches. | Cardiff council said it had visited 842 premises but did not report any breaches. |
| Meanwhile, in Ceredigion, a spokesman said one written warning had been sent to the proprietor of a licensed premises. | Meanwhile, in Ceredigion, a spokesman said one written warning had been sent to the proprietor of a licensed premises. |
| And Flintshire council said it had dealt with some problems with external smoking shelters, while Conwy council said it had issued advice about smoking shelters and signage. | And Flintshire council said it had dealt with some problems with external smoking shelters, while Conwy council said it had issued advice about smoking shelters and signage. |
| Environmental Health Officer Eleri Sewell said that the good weather in April had helped the ban settle in. | Environmental Health Officer Eleri Sewell said that the good weather in April had helped the ban settle in. |
| "A lot of people are dreading the bad weather - they think it is really going to affect the businesses," she said. | "A lot of people are dreading the bad weather - they think it is really going to affect the businesses," she said. |
| "But I think that, by that time, a lot of people will be used to the ban, they will be used to going outside and most places have the shelters now as well." | "But I think that, by that time, a lot of people will be used to the ban, they will be used to going outside and most places have the shelters now as well." |
| PENALTIES Council enforcement officers can give out fixed penalty notices of £50 to people who they believe are smoking or have smoked. If it goes to court, the maximum fine is £200. Premises can also break the law by failing to display no-smoking signs (£200 fixed penalty, maximum fine £1,000). Premises can also be fined for failing to prevent smoking in a smoke-free place, up to £2,500. | PENALTIES Council enforcement officers can give out fixed penalty notices of £50 to people who they believe are smoking or have smoked. If it goes to court, the maximum fine is £200. Premises can also break the law by failing to display no-smoking signs (£200 fixed penalty, maximum fine £1,000). Premises can also be fined for failing to prevent smoking in a smoke-free place, up to £2,500. |
| And Linda Durgan, from Carmarthenshire's Stop Smoking Service said that the number of enquiries had dropped off since the start of the ban. | And Linda Durgan, from Carmarthenshire's Stop Smoking Service said that the number of enquiries had dropped off since the start of the ban. |
| "We had a lot of phone calls and people were very anxious on the day itself, but we have seen a gradual decline in that," she said. | "We had a lot of phone calls and people were very anxious on the day itself, but we have seen a gradual decline in that," she said. |
| Some businesses have said they have already noticed the effect of the ban, including Nigel Griffiths, who manages Llanelli's Argos bingo hall. | |
| "We have lost about 11% of our turnover and about 3% of our customers at the moment," he said. | "We have lost about 11% of our turnover and about 3% of our customers at the moment," he said. |
| Alongside Wales, a smoking ban was also brought in for Northern Ireland in April 2007, while an English ban starts in July. | Alongside Wales, a smoking ban was also brought in for Northern Ireland in April 2007, while an English ban starts in July. |
| Scotland's ban has been in place since March 2006. | Scotland's ban has been in place since March 2006. |
| In Edinburgh only nine fixed penalty notices have been handed out. Only one of these involved a pub, for putting up its smoking shelter incorrectly. | In Edinburgh only nine fixed penalty notices have been handed out. Only one of these involved a pub, for putting up its smoking shelter incorrectly. |