Publicans have criticised a Government proposal to ban smoking in pubs.
The newly-elected president of the Vintners Federation of Ireland, Mr Joe Browne, of Gorey, Co Wexford, said the proposal was outrageous, unenforceable and unworkable.
Mr Browne told 500 delegates at the federation's annual conference in Limerick yesterday: "An outright ban on smoking in pubs will lead to a loss of one of Ireland's most famous features, the Irish pub, which will be replaced by empty premises offering a lacklustre environment. Attempting to enforce a ban will transform Ireland's world-famous pub tradition into an antiseptic Californian-type premises where a similar ban has resulted in empty pubs lacking in atmosphere with smokers thronging footpaths outside."
He said tourists wanted to visit the Irish pubs portrayed in books, films and ads - busy, friendly, full of ambience and atmosphere, not bleak, empty establishments with more patrons on the streets outside smoking than inside the premises.
The VFI claims a blanket ban on smoking would be impossible to police, and the livelihood of 65,000 employees in the trade was at risk. Mr Browne said if the Government was so adamant in its approach to improving the nation's health through reducing the incidence of smoking, it should channel the massive taxes it made on cigarettes into health educational programmes.
Mr Browne believes the answer lies in compromise such as designated no-smoking areas and clean-air solutions. "Both the needs of smokers and non-smokers must be addressed. It may not be politically correct to say so, but some customers want to smoke and there is need to take into consideration their civil rights, which would be compromised should a blanket ban on smoking in pubs be enforced."
The VFI recommends a voluntary code of practice for licensed premises. A charter would involve participating pubs developing best practice clean-air policies. Customers would be able to choose which pub to visit.
The VFI, meanwhile, has joined forces with 17 other business associations in an alliance to tackle increasing insurance costs.
Its new president is a graduate of the Institute of Technology, Bolton Street, Dublin, and the Royal College of Music, a fellow of Trinity College, London, and a trained opera singer.