Its effect on the family environment venues has been negligible nor even positive.

In the other bars and restaurants it has drastically affected the dynamics of the business itself. It has killed the hype on which these outlets do business, Mr Fenech stated.

Anyone who goes round Paceville can see this, he said: people are spending more time outside the venues than inside and bar business has been

seriously affected.

Others are brazenly defying the ban while many others are moving from licensed venues to unlicensed and underground venues, where there is no supervision, for their parties with all the economic and social implications this gives rise to.

Besides, Mr Fenech said, the industry is facing a lot of complaints from tourists. Every day that passes, Mr Fenech said, it is becoming even more clear that the GRTU was right when it suggested a less confrontational and more gradual approach. Countries such as England and Scotland are only now starting to consider a smoking ban. It would have been far better for Malta to have brought in the ban when it had already been introduced elsewhere. Tourists coming to Malta would have got used to the ban in their home countries rather than facing it for the first time on holiday in Malta.