WIN Party welcomes Dr Wayne Mapp's exploration of smoking ban

The WIN Party welcomes National MP Dr Wayne Mapp's desire to explore 'reasonable compromises' to the existing smokefree legislation that is having a negative impact upon the hotel industry.

"The smoking ban in bars and indoor workplaces, which came into force on 10 December 2004, is having a crippling effect upon many hotels in the rural sector, and the legislation amounts to little more than a socialist government forcing its politically correct ideology upon the masses", says WIN Party leader John van Buren.

"There are some very reasonable and workable alternatives to the existing blanket smoking ban in bars that can work effectively and provide smokers and non-smokers with environments they will be happy with".

"Allowing smoking in establishments that meet strict ventilation requirements and can maintain a constant minimum air quality standard will put an end to the majority of the unlicensed bars that have sprung up nationwide since the smoking ban was introduced".

"Dr Mapp will undoubtedly strike considerable opposition from the anti-smoking lobby but at the end of the day our politicians need to decide if New Zealand is to return to governance by commonsense or by political correctness".

ENDS

© Scoop Media