Over the years it has been a hotly contested debate re the demise of Roy Castle who self-diagnosed his cancer as attributable to working in smokey clubs. of course, Roy played to a great number of audiences in years gone by but had there been a smoking ban back then, instead of mass advertising for cigarettes etc, Mr Castle may well not have been playing to packed audiences as the ban has certainly had a dire effect on hospitality attendances. It is interesting to note that no single medically trained professional determined the cancer to any particular section/niche, it was simply … cancer. I suppose that the fact that many state he was a ‘social cigar smoker’ and also worked with many asbestos based props pales into insignificance when it comes to the anti-tobacco merchants for they simply need an opening to start their endless tirades.
Another Mr Castle (this one definitely doesn’t smoke by the way) has done the decent thing in the face of this draconian ban which is slowly but surely killing our hospitality sector; he has simply reconstructed the back room of the house into a pub type bar! Nineteen years old, a baby in society, yet young Michael can see what the ban is doing to his fellow man’s social interactions.
Young Michael says, “It’s the perfect bar. You’ve got your spirits, your stool, your vanity mirror and your atmosphere. Plus, you have the comfort of being at home and not worrying about buses, trains and trams to get home. It’s a bar at home where family, friends and neighbours are free to light-up with gin and tonic in hand.”
It is not illegal either!
He does not need a licence!
He has no set opening/closing times!
Anyone can smoke there!
It is HIS home, not a pub/club and no-one is charged for drinks, it’s a BYO arrangement (Bring Your Own).
Now folks, seriously, I can see this catching on in some style. We already have many houses hosting ‘garden parties’ to families & friends where they can all be together to smoke, drink and have fun. Winter times sees house parties in the same light – who needs a pub nowadays? Michael said: “Loads of people have been in just to see it.” I’ll bet they have, and I’ll also wager they are envious!
Sadly, it would seem that not all are happy with this display of innovation from young Michael as the local NHS led by Dr Peter Brambleby is straight on the old soap box spouting all the usual “about” figures of death, the “approximate” costs to the NHS-never a defined figure, always a guesstimation!
Well Dr Brambleby on this obviously thorny question of young Michael’s actions, I applaud him totally. I applaud him not only for using his initiative but for considering the social pleasures and requirements of his family and neighbours.
One laughable point though, the photographer insisted that Michael be photo’d with a cigar in the required position! Sometimes you simply have to wonder at the brains behind some of these reporters’ actions – the lad doesn’t smoke!