Anti-smoking ban publican may lose licence

A publican of 20 years, who helped set up a political party to fight the smoke-free laws, may be forced out of the hospitality industry this month.

The future of Geoff Mulvihill and his wife's general managers' certificates, along with the Timaru Carlton Hotel's liquor licence, is up for review, The Timaru Herald reported today.

Mr Mulvihill was convicted in December of failing to enforce the smokefree legislation in his tavern.

He was ordered to pay a total of $15,000 in fines and costs for not taking all reasonably practicable steps to ensure nobody smoked in his bar.

The pub owner said people from all over the country had been calling and offering to help pay the fine.

Tim Gresson, solicitor acting for the Canterbury District Health Board's Community and Public Health service, told Liquor Licensing Authority chairman Judge William Unwin yesterday of Mr Mulvihill's year-long defiance of smoke-free legislation.

The criminal convictions of the pub's duty managers were also raised by police.

Mr Mulvihill agreed to police allegations, and his non-compliance with smoking legislation, the newspaper reported.

He said he was now prepared to enforce the legislation, yet told the newspaper he wasn't confident of remaining in the industry.

- NZPA