Not Ecky Boy asked:


We have had a smoking ban in Scotland and Ireland for some time now and I believe our nearest neighbours will soon implement one too. Good.

But I found out an interesting thing recently. I visit my local pub every couple of weeks and recently noticed that the regulars didn’t seem to arrive until much later- shortly before closing time, in fact.

On making enquiries I was intrigued to find that they are arriving late so they can participate in the lock-in. This is after closing time, when the bar is supposedly shut to the public. Ostensibly the owner can then decide who gets to participate in the lock in and- here’s the interesting bit- they all stand at the bar and smoke away merrily on their cigarettes. The owner is a smoker himself and heartily approves of this behaviour.

What’s the legality of this situation, and is any law being broken by it?