THE burning issue of whether smoking should be allowed in pubs is to be taken to a ballot in York.

The initiative is being piloted by Atmosphere Improves Results (AIR), which aims to resolve the public smoking issue by promoting self-regulation in the hospitality industry.

The York ballot scheme was being launched today at the Golden Slipper pub, in Goodramgate, and is the first of ten such consultations due to get under way nationwide.

Using questionnaires provided by AIR, which is part-funded by the tobacco industry, licensees who wish to participate can gather data from their customers and employees, in order to find out what they really think.

Questions such as "Do you smoke?" and "Would you like to see more non-smoking areas in this pub?" will give publicans some idea of how they could implement changes to their pub - if the results show a change is wanted.

Michelle Baker, AIR project manager, said: "There is a common misconception among publicans that the majority of their customers smoke.

"This is not actually true. By running a ballot, publicans can learn what their customers really want."

Also on board is the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Association (FLVA), whose chief executive, Tony Payne, welcomed the opportunity for publicans to work together with staff and customers to find the best solution to the public smoking issue.

Anita Adams, licensee of the Golden Slipper, said it was crucial publicans were free of "Government red tape" and allowed to decide their own smoking policy.

She said: "People seem to have forgotten that public houses are not public places. My pub is also my home, and I am licensed to sell alcohol to people. These days, though, there's more red tape surrounding pubs than there is at nuclear power stations. I believe the majority of my customers want the freedom to choose for themselves, instead of being dictated to by the Government."

Results from the York ballot will be collated by AIR, who will then publish the findings of that and other ballots from other UK towns in January.

Miss Baker said it would be up to each publican to decide how best to respond to the results of the ballot.

A City of York council spokesman said there were no plans at present to implement a smoking ban in York pubs.

He said: "We would certainly be interested in looking at the results of this ballot, but by law we cannot include such results in any policy decisions we make. If pubs wish to become no smoking as a result of the survey, they would be free to do so, on a purely voluntary basis."

Liverpool Council voted recently to support a ban on smoking in public places in its area.

Updated: 10:13 Tuesday, November 02, 2004