WIN PARTY
Freedom of Choice

www.winparty.org.nz
Media Release
01.07.2005
For immediate release

Tavern Forced into Liquidation by Smoking Ban in Bars

“No smoking equals no patrons equals no business, is the effect the smoking ban had upon my hotel”, says former publican John van Buren, as the Wheatsheaf Tavern is forced into liquidation.

WIN Party leader and former Banks Peninsula publican John van Buren closed the tavern’s doors in March and today placed Wheatsheaf Tavern Limited into liquidation.

“There was no point keeping a business going”, says van Buren, “when your customers have been driven away by the draconian smokefree legislation”.

Van Buren is due to appear before the Christchurch District Court on Monday to defend a charge of allegedly having breached the Smokefree Environments Amendment Act legislation.

“I expect the prosecution to still go ahead despite the fact the Wheatsheaf has been closed for more than three months and is now in liquidation”, says van Buren.

“The present government will want to send a clear message to any licensee who may be considering defying the ban in an attempt to keep their business afloat, that they will feel the full weight of the law if they do so”.

ENDS

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