Pub chain chief urges total smoking ban by 2006

The head of one of Britain's biggest pub chains has called for a ban on smoking in all pubs by 2006.

Tim Martin, chairman of the JD Wetherspoon chain of 600 pubs, said the Government should bow to the inevitable and announce a total ban across the country.

The call comes a week after Ireland became the first country in the world to forbid smoking in all bars, café³ and restaurants. A number of local authorities in Britain are drawing up similar plans for their areas but Mr Martin said a piecemeal approach would be unworkable.

He said: "It would be commercial suicide for a pub company to prohibit smoking in the absence of a nationwide ban by the Government. Going it alone is not a viable option."

Last week, the Michelinstarred Chez Bruce restaurant in Wandsworth banned smoking. The British Medical Association has estimated that 1,000 non-smokers die per year in Britain from inhaling other people's smoke.