Madam, - Recently a city centre pub which I enjoy visiting divided its ground floor into smoking and non-smoking areas.
As a non-smoker I appreciate this, but I fear that the invisible barrier supposed to prevent the transfer of cigarette smoke from one area to another area is not very effective.
I also had to enjoy a little laugh with friends as we watched smokers come into the non-smoking area of the pub to buy their cigarettes from the cigarette machine!
Is this the type of radical measure the Irish Hospitality Industry Alliance members propose as an alternative to the smoking ban? If the alliance fears such a dramatic fall in business from the introduction of a ban, perhaps it can prepare the market by introducing an element of competition. It could use such radical tactics as reducing the prices of overpriced services, including accommodation, food and drink.
I suspect that by reacting to market conditions, members of the Irish Hospitality Industry Alliance will successfully counteract the short-term effects the smoking ban may have on business and maintain a healthy enough profit margin in the longer term. -Yours, etc.,
TERRY O'FLOINN, Clonmagaddan, Navan, Co Meath.