It painted a picture of happy venues, such as pubs and bingo halls, since the smoking ban came into force, when the reality is economic carnage.

Something like 2,000 pubs, clubs and bingo halls have shut and 10,000 staff members have lost their jobs since the ban was introduced. The situation is the same in Ireland and Scotland.

A survey in The Morning Advertiser showed that 68 per cent of people want the ban repealed. PricewaterhouseCoopers, the accountancy firm, released a report which stated that the ban is the number one cause of bankruptcy and hardship for venues trying to keep their heads above water.

The ban was introduced without any public consultation or mandate and 70 per cent of the public was against a blanket ban.

There was no mention in the article of the widespread unpopularity of of the ban and that people across the country are fed up to the back teeth with this nannying, bullying government which fines people for dropping a sausage roll, but has accountability for the carnage it has created in the pub and club industry.
JOHN MCQUAIGUE
via e-mail

Please Kev, reveal your secret
HAVING read Kev Lawrence's latest column (ET, July 1), I would like to appeal to him to reveal his secret.

This lovely garden with miniature trains which he wrote about sounds wonderful and my little boy would love it.

He will be three in August and it could well be his birthday party venue.

So Kev, please please reveal this secret.

I enjoy reading your column and you made this place sound so great, I really want to take my little boy.
SHERYL GORDON
via e-mail