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 08 October 2008 00:22 BST

Anti-smoking ban landlord fined

Tuesday, 06 Nov 2007 12:03
The smoking ban in public places came into force on July 1st
Health campaigners have welcomed a £500 fine imposed on a landlord who refused to observe the new smoking ban in his pub.

Hugh Howitt of Blackpool became the first person in England to receive a fine under the new law, introduced in July this year to prevent smoking in public places.

He was also ordered to pay £2,000 prosecution costs at Blackpool magistrates court.

Mr Howitt let people smoke in his pub, the Happy Scots Bar, and set up a group named Fight Against Government Suppression (Fags).

Announcing his decision, District Judge Peter Ward described the landlord's campaign as "silly and pointless".

Martin Dockrell, policy and campaigns manager at the campaigning group Action on Smoking and Health (Ash), said he welcomed the court's decision.

"More than 95 per cent of pubs are sticking to the law, it would be unfair to them and unhealthy for bar staff and customers to allow a handful of pubs to get away with breaking the law," he added.

"The judge was careful not to make a martyr out of this man but nor has he given him a 'smoking permit'. Howitt says he will carry on breaking the law, if he does Blackpool council are duty bound to carry on prosecuting him."

The smoking legislation came into force on July 1st to protect people from the harmful effects of secondhand smoke in public places.
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