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Smoke ban: clubs in crisis
A SOCIAL club official fears venues could go to the wall in the New Year unless the Government perform a smoking ban U-turn.
Mick McGlasham is the branch secretary for the CIU's Durham region, with clubs in Hartlepool and east Durham among the 228 venues he represents.
Mr McGlasham claims some clubs are losing up to 3,000 a week since the ban was introduced.
And he claims many will close in the New Year if they continue to make a loss.
"The private members' clubs are really suffering since the smoking ban was introduced. There is no doubt about that," he said.
"We initially thought we would be exempt from the ban, but once it became clear it would be a blanket ban regardless of the type of establishment, we predicted it would cause problems.
"Six months into the ban, some of our clubs are losing up to 3,000 a week, and that simply cannot continue.
"Clubland in the North East is in grave danger. Unless there is some sort of dialogue between us and the MPs, then clubs will be closing.
"We fully appreciate the health issues, but we could have implemented them ourselves by consulting with the members.
"We could have provided smoking areas, or separate rooms, but that was never an option. The whole thing needs to be reviewed, because we are being hard hit.
"We are telling blokes of 70 or 80 years of age that they cannot come into the club, have a couple of pints, and a smoke.
"What has happened is that members have stopped coming in.
"They don't want to go to modern pubs with loud music and food. They just want a quiet couple of drinks, a game of dominoes, and a smoke.
"We are pushing them on to the street, and they are ending up staying at home."
Mick added: "We are talking about important parts of the community here, some of the clubs have been running for 100 years and more.
"If the clubs lose money, they will have to increase the prices. They will have to lay off staff if there aren't as many customers.
"There is a massive knock-on effect and it is having a huge impact at all clubs up and down the country."
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Weather for Hartlepool
Monday 28 May 2012
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