There are indications that Scotland might follow Ireland’s lead and instigate a smoking ban in pubs and restaurants.

Liverpool has also voted to ban smoking in public places. Spirit Group, which owns former Scottish & Newcastle pubs, Enterprise Inns and Punch Pub Company have all announced that by the end of 2005 smoking will not be allowed at the bar in their pubs, to protect the health of bar staff.

In West Cumbria a number of pubs are already implementing such a rule, and more pubs now have designated no-smoking areas.

The downstairs bar behind the Queens Hotel in Keswick is now smoke free. Some have gone further, and like the Langstrath in Borrowdale and the White Horse at Scales, gone smoke free. The Kirkstile will be smoke free throughout from early January and there are plans for the Oddfellows in Keswick to ban smoking entirely.

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