Irish pub in Perth faces fine for retro tobacco signs

Almost every inch of the popular watering hole in Cambridge Street is littered with antique signs and memorabilia, including a number of collectible tobacco signs dating back more than 120 years.

But the “advertising” has been deemed a breach of the Tobacco Act even though most of the brands are no longer available to purchase and ironically, despite the fact that J.B O’Reilly’s doesn’t sell any tobacco products in the pub.

J.B O’Reilly’s owner Paul North said he was gobsmacked when a letter arrived from the department telling him to pull down his 25 vintage smoking signs.

“I got a letter from the health department with a ‘so-called recommendation’, telling me to remove the tobacco signs,” he said.

“I was told I was in breach of the Tobacco Act and I was told to take down the 25 pieces of art in my opinion.

“I don’t believe this signs make people smoke.

“The signs have been here for 23 years and I’ve never had a problem. Some of them are collectibles and antiques – I brought one for $3000 and another for $5000. They are part of history.”

J.B.O’Reilly’s owner Paul North is angry he has been told to pull down his vintage tobacco signs. Photo: James Mooney

Under the Tobacco Control Legislation Act, tobacco advertising and promotion is illegal.

The maximum fine for a business is $40,000 and repeat offenders could be slugged with a fine up to $80,000.

But Mr North said the health department was being ridiculous because most of the tobacco featured in the signs was no longer available.

“They are f****n’ idiots,” he said. “Lads lighten up, we don’t need this.

“Some of the tobacco on the signs you can’t get anymore, like the Counter Shag tobacco. But I’ve asked the health department for some extra time to consider the legal implications.”

Some of the signs have set back the pub $5,000 and are up to 120 years old. Photo: James Mooney

Mr North said he won’t pull down the signs and is planning to fight it all the way.

“I hope they do prosecute me, because I will take it to the highest court in Australia,” he said

“I will take it all the way. You can’t rewrite history.”

The pub on Cambridge Street has had the signs up for a number of years.

A spokeswoman for the health department said the pub had until March 3 to remove the signs. She said the department spotted the signs during a routine inspection.

“They have been told to take them down and issued with a non-compliance report,” she said.