Pizza Hut Bans Smoking In UK Outlets

Pizza Hut UK, has banned smoking in the latest victory for the increasingly vocal anti-tobacoo lobby. Brian Rimmer, operations directory, Pizza Hut said the company, “Strongly believes that families should be able to take time to have a leisurely meal in a restaurant without exposing their children to other people’s smoke.”

Rimmer, whose company has 350 restaurants around Britain, feels that it is equally important that staff can work in a smoke-free environment. Last month, Britain’s chief medical officer Liam Donaldson recommended a total ban on smoking in public places. That sweeping move is already being considered by health officials in the southern English seaside resort of Brighton.

“The anti-smoking lobby is certainly getting more effective,” said David Liston, senior analyst in London at the investment managers Gerrard. “This is getting up a head of steam. There is a conflict here. Governments globally get so much of their revenues from tobacco taxes. So they have to try to balance these good intentions on stopping people smoking with the lack of revenue coming in.”