For starters, it's now no smoking in pubs (4)
I believe the answer is:
inns
'pubs' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'for starters it's now no smoking' is the wordplay.
'for starters' indicates taking the first letters.
The initial letters of 'its now no smoking' is 'INNS'.
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for inns that I've seen before include "drinking haunts" , "More than one pub" , "Old hostelries or pubs" , "Old-time hostelries" , "Drinking places (frequented by barristers?)" .)