Belfast Bar Breaches Smoke-Free Legislation

The owners of the Perch Rooftop bar in Belfast have been fined £1,000 for failing to comply with smoke-free legislation.

In the first case of its kind in Northern Ireland, the designated beer garden at the premises was found to be substantially enclosed.

Officers witnessed ashtrays on tables and people smoking without any intervention from staff to stop it.

The city centre bar, owned by Abacus Inns Limited, was found to be in breach of the Smoking (NI) Order 2006.

The firm pleaded guilty to failing to prevent people smoking within their premises and failing to display statutory smoke-free signage.

It follows visits by tobacco control officers on 15 February 2019.

As agreed at Belfast Magistrates Court, the owners will pay £750 in respect of their failure to prevent people smoking within their premises and £250 for failing to display statutory smoke-free signage and was also ordered to pay costs of £75.

A spokesperson for Belfast City Council said: "Smoke-free legislation was introduced to protect people from breathing in second-hand smoke in enclosed and substantially enclosed premises. The message from the courts today is that beer gardens must be in compliance with the regulations. Belfast City Council is committed to ensuring that all businesses in the city meet their obligations to safeguard the public under tobacco control legislation."



(JG/CM)