http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/manchester/6263422.stm

Monday, 2 July 2007, 20:39 GMT 21:39 UK

Smoke ban rebel pub under threat

Mr Hogan has vowed to continue defying the ban
A Greater Manchester pub where patrons are being encouraged to light up in defiance of the smoking ban could be closed down, a councillor has warned.
Customers at the Swan Hotel in Bolton have been allowed to continue smoking inside by landlord Nick Hogan.

Councillor Pat Karney, NHS director of Smoke Free Greater Manchester, said the pub was breaking the law.

Mr Hogan, who is backed by the Smokers' Rights Appeal Fund, says he is prepared to go to court over the fight.

Owners and managers of pubs and clubs which fail to comply with the smoking laws can face fines of up to £2,500 - and individual smokers can be fined £50.

All enclosed public places are now smoke-free zones, a change which the government says is backed by about 80% of the population.

We have got a situation here though in Bolton where they are glorifying breaking the law

Pat Karney

Mr Hogan said: "I am just a little bit surprised that Mr Karney does not realise that smokers have rights and also that smokers are voters.

"We are not asking for this legislation to be overturned whatsoever.

"What we are asking for is amendments. There should be smoking areas and non-smoking areas."

Mr Karney said that thousands of pubs across Greater Manchester and the North West had adhered to the ban and gone smoke free.

"There will be a settling down period and all the councils in Greater Manchester are committed to working closely with businesses and winning public support.

"We have got a situation here though in Bolton where they are glorifying breaking the law.

"It's a tobacco industry stunt and a first warning has been given to the pub.

"A prosecution warning will follow and if that prosecution warning doesn't work I am advocating that the pub should be closed down."