A LANDLORD has criticised the smoking ban for damaging the pub trade, nearly ten years after the ban came into force. Dave Howells, landlord at the Liden Arms in Barrington Close, slammed the ban, which will ring in its 10th anniversary on July 1 this year, for ‘taking away freedom of choice’ He said: “The ban has affected the pub trade, particular wet pubs, which only serve drinks and not food.