BY MARK MCKELVEY
EXPENSIVE chances will have to be taken by the licensing trade as publicans are in the dark over how they should accommodate smoking patrons.
With an outright smoking ban in just 28 days, that's the view of one Tyrone publican. He claims there is a lack of information as to what steps licensees can take to provide external areas for smokers.
Mark Ferran, owner of Mary Anns bar in Aughnacloy, has said trying to establish what changes can be made to the exterior of his bar is comparable to 'banging your head off a brick wall.'
He claims that publicans have been advised not to follow in the footsteps of their counterparts in the South following the smoking ban there.
"We have been informed by Environmental Health that many publicans in the south have gone a step too far. Publicans now in the North are completely in the dark and we will have to take chances, very expensive chances."
He is publicly critical of the lack of information provided by local Councils.
Having experienced "marginal improvements" in business from neighbouring Monaghan following the introduction smoking restrictions in the South, Mark is fully aware of the critical months ahead in the pub trade.
He has investigated all avenues, visiting pubs in the South to learn how to make preparations and modifications to his pub.
Different publicans are taking different views on the introduction of the smoking ban, a lot of the older publicans in the trade seem to be sitting back more, waiting to see what will happen, but younger publicans seem more pro-active in moving towards it with a willingness and eager.
"It is not advisable in any form of business to stand still, you have to move with the times.
"I am 20 years in the trade and self employed for the past five and I am on the opinion that you have to be on the move and be prepared for these changes.
"I myself am looking into branching out into the food end of the market more as we have to seek other ways of attracting custom."
Mary Anns is fortunate enough to have a small area at the rear of the premises. However, Mark says the biggest problem in adapting to the changes in legislation is the lack of communication and information provided from local authorities.
"The main problem I have found in providing these facilities is the council is not offering enough advice as to what facilities we can provide," declared the pub owner.
"Environmental Health is currently going door to door telling us what we are allowed to do inside a building which is a waste of rate payers money as it is already self explanatory - you are not permitted to smoke inside, that is cut and dry.
"What we need is someone from the council to inform us what we can do to the exterior of the premises. Planning have said this could take up to a year to go round everybody, so they are basically asking publicans to provide their facilities, then be visited up to a year later to be told if we are right or wrong.
"At the moment I am pricing retractable canopies, front and rear, which could cost up to £5000, under a cloud of doubt that I could later be told I can't do that.
"I personally was in touch in November with Environmental Health to find out what we can do to the exterior but it's like banging your head off a brick wall," he adds.
