THE professional body which represents publicans has urged the region's landlords to carry on selling cigarettes after a smoking ban comes into force in 100 days.

Even though customers will be unable to smoke on the premises after July 1, publicans are being advised that they should not miss out on the income from cigarette sales.

The controversial advice to North-East and North Yorkshire publicans was given at seminars organised by the British Institute of Innkeeping (BII) in Yorkshire and Northumberland.

Landlords were reminded that the sale of cigarettes in pubs is not affected by the legislation.

The BII's stance was strongly criticised by the Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) charity.

Deborah Arnott, director of Ash, said: "I don't know why it is their role to encourage publicans to sell cigarettes. They have the right to sell them, but it is not in the spirit of the legislation. You are selling them to people where they can't smoke them."

Pubs should consider selling nicotine replacement products such as chewing gum, she said.

"Instead of selling products that will kill half of your customers, which is not a great long-term strategy, why not sell them nicotine replacement products," she added.

Last night, the Department of Health published the results of a survey which show that 68 per cent of the North-East population support the legislation.

The same proportion of adults say the legislation will not affect how often they go to the pub.

Despite a survey of Scottish pub landlords - which suggests that bar staff are being laid off as a result of falling sales due to the smoking ban introduced a year ago - ten per cent of people in the North-East said they would go to the pub more often after the ban.

Melanie Taylor, spokeswoman for the BII, said their advice was part of a wider message to publicans that the new legislation was an opportunity, rather than a threat.

"You need to deep clean, get rid of the smell of smoke and stale beer, clean the floors, give your places a lick of paint and then re-launch yourself" she said.

"People are going to continue smoking. They are going to be able to smoke outside of your pub. You don't want to lost trade."

Richard Slade, North-East regional chairman of the BII, who runs the Battlesteads Hotel in Wark, Northumberland, said: "There is no law that you can't sell cigarettes. I suspect the Chancellor won't want to lose the revenue."

Public Health Minister Caroline Flint said: "The new law will protect everyone from the harm of secondhand smoke at work and in public places, and will save lives."

To help businesses prepare, the Government is sending out guidance to every business with employees.

* Meet the man who aims to make Darlington smoke-free - see page 25. For the latest information for businesses, visit www.smokefreeengland.co.uk/ stayinformed or call 0800-1691697.

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