Bar owner finds smoking ban loophole

A flamboyant businessman is openly flouting the smoking ban and claims that he has found a loophole to avoid getting caught.

Dave West, who owns the Abracadabra restaurant and Hey Jo, a private member's bar, in London, said that if necessary his doorstaff would warn him if police or councillors enter the building.

"It's a very hard thing to prove," said Mr West. "The doormen will ask everyone who enters if they are a policeman or a council officer, which they have to declare, and they will then radio down to us.

"Our customers will then put their cigarettes in the ashtrays and even if they had lit cigarettes in front of them, how can you prove they have been physically smoking them?"

I like this. What people do on private property is none of the government’s business. I see one problem with the plan and that the police will do everything they can to get their man. If they see that there are cigarettes in the ashtrays in the club they can arrest everyone in the vicinity of the ashtray and take their DNA and match it to the cigarettes. Don’t think they won’t do it either because if they are willing to take your DNA for minor crimes then they are willing to do it for this. The government wants no opposition and they will do everything they can to crush it.