200 march to get ban on smoking moderated

A PROTEST march against the proposed blanket smoking ban attracted more than 200 people yesterday. Setting off from the Yacht Inn at 11am, they walked to the Foresters Arms and back armed with banners and placards outlining their concerns and backing the Save Our Smokers campaign group.

'We are just looking for fair compromise, fair choice and fair exemptions and that is what we are trying to achieve,' said SOS president Peter Leigh.

'We are not the enemy. If they left the public bars alone, there would not be all this fuss.'

He said there had been no complaints from the police throughout the march.

'They were very friendly, helping us all the way ' they were excellent.'

Mariners' Inn licensee and SOS committee member Tina Ramsden said: 'The deputies have got to take note. It's freedom of choice and let the public bars stay smoking.'

Many of the protesters will be heading to the steps outside the States on Wednesday at 9.15am as SOS hands over a 1,200-strong petition to Health and Social Services minister Peter Roffey.

'The aims of SOS are continually getting misrepresented in the media,' said Deputy Duncan Staples.

'They are not trying to get the ban overturned ' all they are trying to do is get a compromise. A lot of people don't realise that under these proposals, designated smoking rooms will become banned, which is ludicrous,' he said.

'That is the very least SOS is lobbying for. I don't think anybody is vehemently opposed to the ban and it's fairly sensible, but there are several compromises available which won't impinge on the rights of any employee, but this ban refuses to acknowledge it.'

The march was led by licensees and SOS members.

'We will not lose our international status by vetoing this law. Phone your deputy and tell him what you want,' shouted Mr Leigh over a tannoy.

'Non-smokers will be affected as well as smokers. Eventually your taxes will go up.

'Pubs are no longer opening in the afternoon in Ireland because there is no trade.'

He urged politicians to support Deputy Gallienne's sursis delaying ratification until exemptions to the ban on all enclosed public spaces were known.

'The exemptions should be discussed at the same time as the ratification,' he said.

Marchers called for a compromise and freedom of choice.

'What is the States going to do without the '7.75m. that they will lose if everybody stops smoking?' asked housewife Christine Le Jean, 55. 'We are becoming a nanny state.'

Housewife Carol Mechem, 52, took a swipe at the States.

'They are dictating to you what you can and cannot do but entirely it's up to people to decide if they smoke or not. We vote for deputies and they are against us,' she said.

Sub-postmistress Mary Quinn, 52, believed smoking should remain legal in pubs.

'I don't think the deputies should all be against us after we go out and vote for them. I think it's wrong and they could do more for us with separate rooms,' she said.

'Euchre and all sports games will phase out in the pubs.'

Storeman-driver Wayne Mechem, 34, a smoker, said he did not want to be told what to do with his own life and health.

'I think it's wrong they are trying to ban it everywhere. I think like in Ireland, it will have the same effect and a lot of jobs will be lost.'

Civil servant Vikki Le Poidevin, 29, said: 'I feel people should have the right to choose and the freedom of choice. I think the march should make a difference. It probably won't, but I hope so.'