The government’s present proposals are a compromise under which smoking would be allowed in establishments where food was not served.

However, groups representing licensed premises now believe this arrangement would be unworkable.

Their decision to support Hewitt will help her to overcome cabinet opposition to a ban led by John Reid, the defence secretary and Hewitt’s predecessor as health secretary. He worked out the current compromise, which was laid out in a white paper published shortly before the election.

The industry is represented by three organisations — the British Hospitality Association (BHA), the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) and the Federation of Licensed Victuallers Associations (FLVA). All three appear to be reconciled to a full ban and are now lobbying over how, not if, it is introduced.

A source at the BHA, which represents hotels and restaurants in addition to pubs and clubs, said it believed a partial ban would fail to protect staff from smoke and would create competition problems between neighbouring establishments.

He said: “We have asked for six extra months to impose a ban. We would have preferred a voluntary approach but no longer think that is feasible.”

The three organisations sent submissions to Hewitt during a consultation in the summer.

They had been asked to comment on Reid’s white paper, which proposed a complete ban on workplace smoking, including smoking rooms in offices as well as licensed premises.

Under the proposals a pub serving food at the premises (and outside in a garden) would have had a ban imposed by the end of 2007. Smoking would, however, have been allowed in pubs not serving food, apart from a 3ft exclusion zone around the bar.

The compromise infuriated both the pro-smoking and anti-smoking lobbies and Hewitt is understood to believe it would be unworkable. She is convinced a partial ban would not achieve the government’s original aim of protecting bar workers from passive smoking.

The FLVA, which represents pub landlords, opposed any ban in its submission but has told Caroline Flint, the public health minister, it would accept a ban if it was given five years to implement it.

Hewitt is, however, unlikely to announce a full ban soon because of ministerial disagreements. Government sources say Tony Blair and Reid oppose extending the ban beyond the partial prohibition promised in Labour’s election manifesto.

Reid, a former smoker, has argued in cabinet that it would be inappropriate to take away people’s right to smoke.

Blair’s objection is more practical. He considers such a move would be more trouble than it was worth when most pubs have voluntarily committed themselves to reducing smoking by 2009. However, he is understood to have told Hewitt he could be persuaded of the merits of a blanket ban.

Such opposition is becoming increasingly hard to justify. Reid, for example, is strongly opposed by Sir Liam Donaldson, the chief medical officer, who, unusually for a civil servant, is putting Hewitt under public pressure to back a total ban. Donaldson has publicly said the proposals “don’t go as far” as he wants them to.

The British Medical Association has also orchestrated a sustained campaign of lobbying and Jim Johnson, its chairman, has described the policy as “unpoliceable”.

Hewitt is understood to accept that medical evidence for a ban is overwhelming and pressure for one is growing. The Scottish parliament and Welsh assembly are expected to announce smoking bans in pubs and clubs.

A source close to Hewitt said: “This is still being fought over and argued through. It could be two or three weeks before we see a final decision.”

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