Effects of pub smoking ban exaggerated, says study

Related tags Smoking ban

The prospect of a UK-wide smoking ban in pubs by the end of 2008 is
daunting but new research suggests the threat to trade may be
exaggerated, and trade can be maintained if firms adapt, writes
Chris Mercer.

A Scotland-wide ban, set to be introduced next year, is a worrying move for brewers, drinks makers and pub operators, while the British government proposed a ban across the UK by the end of 2008 in its public health White Paper last autumn.

Mark Hastings, spokesperson for the British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA), said it had been proven beyond dispute that pub revenues go down when a smoking ban is introduced.

He told BeverageDaily.com​ that Irish pub sales of all drinks had fallen 15 per cent since a ban had been introduced there.

But, Hastings said that more establishments could help themselves by adapting early. "They need to look at how to provide the necessary outside space to retain smoking customers."

Calls for pubs to take the offensive and get ahead of the game by working out ways to deal with a smoking ban were also echoed by Adrian McKeon, managing director of Allied Domecq Wines, in a recent survey by market researchers Euromonitor​.

However, new research suggests a smoking ban may not be the killer blow it was once thought to be.

A somewhat controversial survey of selected pubs around Glasgow this week indicated a smoking-ban may even boost trade.

And this survey has been backed up by new research from the UK Office of National Statistics, which says that two thirds of those asked supported smoking restrictions in pubs.

Of these, 47 per cent said pubs should be mainly non-smoking with designated smoking areas and 31 per cent were in favour of a total smoking ban - compared to 20 per cent in 2003.

The report continues to say that 85 per cent of smokers said they would still visit a pub as often as they do now even if a ban was introduced, while a ban would make 30 per cent of non-smokers would visit a pub more often.

This last figure is particularly important when laid against an anti-smoking trend in British society. Another statistics office survey last year revealed a five per cent drop in the number of regular cigarette smokers since 1996.

Some pub owners say that whilst they individually would not introduce a smoking ban for fear of losing custom to rivals, they would not have a problem with a ban applied universally across all pubs.

The set-up of some chains may also insulate them, and their drinks suppliers, from the worst effects of a smoking ban.

J.D. Wetherspoons is an obvious example, having been one of the first to seriously cut down on smoking areas and also ban smoking from bar areas.

Domestic ale brewer Greene King, which also owns more than 800 pubs, said its planning was already at an advanced stage too.

"Within Pub Company, both smoking at the bar and back of house will be removed from all of our pubs by the end of 2005. We are also committed to increasing the overall non-smoking floor space going forward,"​ said chief executive Rooney Anand.

"At the same time, 83 per cent of our managed pubs have external space that will enable us, with limited investment, to provide an attractive environment for smokers after the ban is introduced. So far in 2005, we have invested in 80 outlets and we will be continuing this initiative in the current financial year."

Anand added that Greene King would be helped by the weighting of its portfolio towards food-based and family-oriented pubs.

Discussions on a possible UK-wide smoking ban in pubs are reported to be on-going. The BBPA is in regular contact with government officials on the issue and has expressed its concerns about a total ban.

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