A Wolverhampton MEP has launched a campaign for designated smoking rooms to be reintroduced to public houses to boost the struggling pub industry. The UKIP MEP said the introduction of the smoking ban in pubs on July 1, 2007, has had a negative impact on the nation's pub industry. With thousands of pubs closing since the 2008 budget, and with further beer tax increases expected in April's budget, Mike Nattrass said the smoking ban has hit the pub trade hard. He has urged members of the community and the pub industry itself to back his campaign for separate ventilated and un-staffed smoking rooms to take their place back in the British local. Mr Nattrass said: "My view is that smoking in pubs must involve a separate room which is ventilated where no staff are forced to work in the smoke. "It would mean that many customers would return to pubs which are focal points in local communities up and down the country. The local pub is at the heart of communities and the introduction of the smoking ban has undermined the British pub," he added. | 
