DOCTORS last night accused the Government of misleading the public after it emerged that smoking will continue in a majority of pubs in many North-East towns.
Health Secretary John Reid said his proposal to ban smoking in all licensed premises that serve food would outlaw the habit in at least 80 per cent of pubs from 2008.
But The Northern Echo can reveal that the move will have a far greater effect on pubs in the South.
While a majority of drinking establishments in the South-East already serve food, many pubs in the North-East and North Yorkshire do not.
In Darlington only 47 of 104 pubs serve food. An environmental health spokesman confirmed that smoking would continue in 55 per cent of bars in the town.
In Middlesbrough, 71 per cent of bars serve food, so a majority would ban smoking.
Out of 125 pubs in Wear Valley only 57 sell food, meaning 55 per cent will not be hit by a smoking ban, while in Derwentside, 38 per cent of pubs will continue to offer a haven for smokers.
Figures were not available for North Yorkshire, but authorities confirmed scores of pubs would escape the ban.
It is thought that in some large cities, more than 90 per cent of pubs would be forced to ban smoking, allowing the Government to argue an overall majority would have to act.
In York, the city has 189 pubs and all but 23 will be forced to outlaw smoking, meaning a smoking ban in 88 per cent of licensed premises.
The proposals are contained in the Government's Health White Paper, published yesterday.
Other proposals include plans to offer an "NHS trainer" to anyone wanting advice on improving their lifestyle and a a personalised health guide.
There will be a crackdown on television advertising of junk foods aimed at youngsters, broadcast between children's programmes. It follows parental complaints about "pester power".
Legislation would be considered in 2007 if the TV companies failed to abide by a voluntary code of conduct, to be drawn up by regulator Ofcom.
Supermarkets will be urged to draw up a "traffic light" system of coding on food, with burgers and other fat-laden foods given a red light.
But the most controversial suggestion is the smoking ban. While ministers hailed the scheme as a breakthrough some anti-smoking campaigners said they remained sceptical because ministers had stepped back from an outright ban.
The British Medical Association said the stark differences town-by-town in the proportion of pubs serving food meant the Government's proposals were extremely worrying.
A spokeswoman said: "We will be lobbying for the Government to think again. It means that, in a number of areas, smoking will be allowed to continue in a majority of pubs.
"Often the pubs that do serve food are more expensive, so people won't have a real choice. Meanwhile, the pubs that allow smoking will also be serving junk food like crisps, which the Government is neglecting.
"John Reid says he wants to move towards smoke-free environments, but in some areas that clearly won't be the case."
Under Dr Reid's plans, in the White Paper called Choosing Health; Making Health Choices Easier, smoking would also be banned in all restaurants by 2008, and in all workplaces by 2007.
Private clubs, including working men's clubs, will also be exempt from the ban. But smoking in all bar areas would be outlawed.
Defending the compromise, Dr Reid said the public was on his side, pointing to the Government's research, which showed only 20 per cent of people wanted a complete ban in all pubs.
In contrast, 86 per cent of respondents backed a ban in workplaces and a "similarly substantial majority" wanted tough restrictions in restaurants.
Insisting it was not right to dictate lifestyles, Dr Reid said: "People who find themselves, in a few years' time, in the same smoky atmosphere, will be doing so by choice."
He also denied that pubs serving light snacks would be tempted to stop in order to allow smoking to continue, saying much of their profit was gained from serving food.
Backing for the Government's approach came from Stockton South MP Dari Taylor, who said it was vital to move only with the public's support.
Ms Taylor said: "This goes further than I anticipated and we are going in the right direction. I think there will be proposals for a complete ban on smoking in the next few years.
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