His rudeness has long been forgiven and forgotten. His request has not. In fact I think these days BAPTO and its members should adopt those words as a slogan at all pool playing sites where members operate and on any publicity material they issue.

The idea occurred to me when I read in my daily paper recently that it is not the price of alcoholic drinks but the smoking ban that has been the main cause of so many public houses closing. Considering that the number of closures has accelerated since the ban became law there is probably a lot in it. I have mentioned before that pool is the victim of economic circumstances and not the cause of them. If fewer numbers of people go to pubs then less use will be made of the pool tables. There is no more demeaning sight, in my opinion, than a huddle of respectable men and women, all law-abiding, having to enjoy a cigarette or a pipe in the precincts of pubs because they are not permitted to smoke within. Furthermore the Chancellor might need the duty lost on alcohol and cigarettes when payback time arrives for the public purse to pay for the money spent on saving the banks.

The young man of yesteryear gave pool a slogan for which it has no need to pay. Let's Play Pool should appear in all places where pool tables are sited. Advertising men say auto-suggestion is a good way to sell a product. The slogan is to be recommended.

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