After it has been reported that maverick pubs in Wales may flout the smoking ban when it comes into force, licensees are being warned that they risk hefty fines every time they ignore the restrictions.

The smoking ban comes into effect on April 2nd for Wales, April 30th for Northern Ireland and on July 1st in England and has been getting many pub landlords hot under the collar, particularly after news that a third of Scottish pubs claim to have laid off staff since their ban.

Now it has emerged that some Welsh landlords, determined not to lose business from their regulars, intend to ignore the ban behind closed doors.

One Carmarthenshire licensee told the Wales on Sunday: "Maybe when the doors are shut and no-one else is allowed in, people will be allowed to smoke.

"But in business hours everyone will toe the line."

Simon Clark, director of pro-smoking lobby group Forest, said: "I don't think it will happen in the short term, but as things settle down it could well be that some businesses turn a blind eye."

But with landlords caught allowing smoking on their premises facing fines of £2,500, analysts are warning that it is an expensive risk to run.

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