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The Gun pub
Smokers enjoy final puff
Sun, July 01 2007

The Gun pub in Wash Common holds bizarre funeral to mark the death of smoking in public places
 

SMOKERS gathered together in Wash Common’s The Gun pub last night (June 30) to mourn today’s introduction of the smoking ban.
Dressing gowns, smoking jackets and whacky hats were all on display as bar staff handed out free cigarettes to diehard smokers enjoying their final puff at the tongue-in-cheek bash, which organisers called the ‘Cough-Inn’.
Landlord of The Gun, Alan Murray, said: “This is a little celebration for smokers to enjoy their last night of freedom to smoke in a public house. It’s the death of personal choice as I see it.”
Many regulars in the pub disagreed with the smoking ban and said it would damage the community spirit in The Gun.
Non-smoker and a regular of The Gun, Andrew Nevin, said: “They should put extrac-tion fans in above the bar so people behind the bar are protected from the smoke. I think people should be allowed to do what they want.”
Mr Murray said he will enforce the ban as strictly as every other pub because of the £2,500 fine he faces

 

I’d give up smoking but I don’t want to turn into one of those non-smokers

Alan Murray, landlord of The Gun
if he fails to do so.
The Gun pub empties about 15 ash trays and chucks out more than 300 cigarette ends every evening.
Mr Murray believes the smoking ban will have an impact on the number of people who come to pubs to drink and socialise.
Figures released by the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, five months after Scotland implemented the smoking ban in March 2006, showed sales of alcohol in Scottish pubs had fallen by 10%.
Food sales fell by 3%, according to the organisation.
Mr Murray said: “I do think the ban will have an effect but then again only time will tell.
“All I know is that I’d give up smoking but I don’t want to turn into one of those non-smokers.”
The pub will continue to hold its charity hat club once a month, where members are allowed to speak on any subject except hats, facing fines that go to charity if they even mention the word.
The pub will soon have its outside redecorated and the rear garden will be available for smokers to use.

 
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