http://www.iol.co.za/news/politics/smoking-ban-would-choke-income-pub-owners-1.1342099
July 16 2012 at 11:35am
By Yoliswa Tswanya
REUTERS
Many Restaurants, pubs and bars believe the proposed smoking legislation would be bad for business. Photo: Reuters
Related Stories
- · Stricter warnings on packaging
- · Smoking rules have business fuming
- · ‘Kick new law in the butt’
- · Smoking laws violate constitution: LRP
Many restaurants, pubs and bars would prefer to see draft legislation aimed at tobacco control going up in smoke.
Industry roleplayers believe the proposed legislation would be bad for business.
Kiril Kirilov, manager of the Ferryman’s Tavern at the V&A Waterfront, said the establishment’s smoking section made more money. He said the new legislation could affect business badly.
The Department of Health’s draft regulations would ban smoking in almost all public places.
They would criminalise smoking in any building, outdoor venue, outdoor drinking or eating area, park, walkway, parking area, or within 10 metres of any doorway or window, and on a public or private beach.
Smokers say they wouldn’t be happy if the proposed law came into effect.
Ludwe Mange said that if he went outside to smoke he would have to leave his food and drink inside and this would not be fair. “There’s already smoke here, who would know the difference?” said a friend of Mange, who didn’t want to be named, referring to the smoke from the braai area at Maphindi’s Tavern in Gugulethu.
However, non-smoker Siphiwe Magoda thought that smokers were inconsiderate and would light up a cigarette regardless of who was near enough to breathe in their second-hand smoke.
Cape Argus