Pub owners are fighting back against the campaign to ban smoking from all public places.
Recent legislation has outlawed smoking in pubs and bars across Ireland and Scotland.
But publicans in Harwich and Dovercourt are opposing any similar change in the law in England, insisting it would be bad for business.
They have placed posters and signs across the bars encouraging people to support them and some have even collected petitions against a ban.
Barry Mackness, landlord of the Hanover Inn, Church Street, Harwich, said: "Even people who don't smoke, including me, believe they should be allowed somewhere to smoke and the pub seems to be the right place.
"Pubs which do food would not be too happy about smoking, which is fair, but to be honest it is going to damage the other pubs. Once the customers stop I can't get them back."
He claimed pubs are cleaner today than ever before, as they are installed with extractor fans and air purifiers.
A Government White Paper is being produced next week to assess the risks of passive smoking on public health.
Published Tuesday, November 16, 2004
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