The landlady of a British pub has exploited a loophole in the country’s smoking ban by opening a “smoking research centre” where drinkers can light up legally, reports said on Wednesday.
Locals at the Cutting Edge pub in Barnsley, northern England, must fill in a questionnaire on their smoking habits to satisfy legal requirements before sitting down for a drink and a cigarette in the centre.
England and Wales introduced a ban on smoking in enclosed public places in 2007, contributing to tumbling beer sales which have forced over 2 000 pubs to close in the last year, according to the British Beer and Pub Association.
The Cutting Edge’s landlady Kerry Fenton opened the centre, which is a separate room in her pub, five days ago.
“It’s given business a shot in the arm and it’s all in the name of research, legal and above board,” she told the Sun newspaper. “I’m a non-smoker but I believe in the freedom of the individual.”
The loophole in the law was discovered by pub regular James Martin, a 40-year-old printer. The local council told the paper it intended to enforce the smoking ban at the pub. — AFP