Smoker opens 'garage bar' at home

Smoker Mark Dent refused to be stuck out in the cold at his local pub. Now he stays home, and brings the pub atmosphere to him.

Mr Dent converted the garage at his Banks Peninsula home into a bar, and hosts up to 200 friends and visitors at a time who can enjoy a cigarette and a beer without fear of being kicked out into the cold.

"This is what people are going to do now. I can have the local community come around here and make it comfortable for them," Mr Dent said.

"Who's going to sit outside and have a cigarette in this freaking weather?"

Mr Dent said he provided free alcohol at his garage, or people brought their own. His guests could choose to contribute to a "slush fund".

" I don't make money out of it. It costs me money.

"I like having a place where I can still have the socialising I want, and that I can't have at the pub."

Mr Dent said he generally had about 30 guests, who sometimes slept over rather than drive home.

Ministry of Health public health chief adviser Ashley Bloomfield said as long as liquor was not being sold, such bars did not have to be licensed.

"If they are not licensed premises, and are private dwellings, they are not covered by smokefree legislation."

John Van Buren, leader of the "freedom of choice" Win Party, said he knew of at least six of its type in the Banks Peninsula area alone.

"The colder it gets the more [smokers] are going to drink at home. It will kill the hospitality industry."

- NZPA