2nd hand smoke with the proper ventilation system is a small risk compared to other occupations. Of course new employees should be informed about possible risk, but after that, its their choice.
Its not coal mining, fer crying out loud.
My point is until now employers of bar workers have been exempt from providing "proper equipment required for the safety of your employees" because it was seen as "part of the job".
This in my opinion is wrong. In any other occupation you would be given ventilators/dust masks or indeed have a "proper ventilation system".
Problem is there is no specification for a ventilation system adequate enough to offer the safe removal of any and all harmful compounds in the smoke for use in a public house/bar.
Now the government has stepped in and instead of enforcing expensive refits or kit needs to deal with the problem, they have in fact tackled the issue of health and safety in the workplace, and public health all in one go with a measure that will make the least number of pubs suffer.
Cough up dosh for a full fume cupboard type system in a pub... or cough up the dough for masks and ventilators for all your staff... or just ban smoking.
In the large proportion of cases smokers will continue to go there, they just wont smoke (Ive yet to meet a smoker who cant wait a little longer until they have a puff, most smoke because they find it quite relaxing... not because they are craving the nicotine). Others... will find other establishments that have made some simple modifications (a canvas awning on a beer garden does not cost a lot of dosh in comparison to other methods of dealing with smokers).
140 pubs out of just how many pubs in scotland?!... I think its an acceptable loss if thats the case, and to be honest I cant see that actual outcome happening anyway.