The drop in trade following the smoking ban has been worse than expected and one in three pubs may close as a result, a survey has found.
On the first anniversary of the smoking ban, research on behalf of the pub trade magazine Morning Advertiser shows more than one in three (35 per cent) of pub landlords think their pub might close in the foreseeable future.
More than three quarters (77 per cent) of licensees blame the ban for a decline in their business. The credit crunch and prices of drinks rising faster than inflation are also being blamed.
However, consumers are happy with eight out of ten pub-goers “delighted” with the ban.
Andrew Pring, editor of the Morning Advertiser said: “It is great to hear that consumers now prefer the pub environment and clearly most landlords have really raised their game.
“But we have seen record pub closures despite the great strides made to improve quality and service to help counter the effect of the ban because people cannot afford to visit the pub as often.”
Andrew Pring added that pubs needed government support to carry on. He said: “Government can offer some relief by abandoning their own inflation-busting increases in duty of two per cent over inflation for the next four. If they don’t they will cripple the pub trade.”
The survey of 300 landlords and 2,000 adults also found 63 per cent revealed the drop in trade was worse than they expected.
Seven in ten pub managers said they had made a significant investment in preparation for the ban and four in ten felt the impact would have been much worse without the time and money spent.
14 Comments
Shropshire Star, make your mind up! This morning the ban was a success, and tonight it means the end of pubs!
I suppose you’re not guilty of biased reporting though…
Could it be that the weaker economy has something to do with declines in business at these establishments. I’d certainly say so. Aside from that, 80% of pub customers prefer smoke free. Certainly there should be no going back to the old filthy air.
I’m sorry Mr Pring, Pubs need customers, and since it is obvious to your licensee’s that smokers made a vital contribution to their trade (77% Your Quote)why don’t you do something to help them by campaigning for an ammendment to the smoking bill allowing separate smoking facilties instead of begging from HMG who will probably not help you anyway.
Smoking is being used as a scapegoat for an industry that was in decline anyway. This has been compounded by the (media driven)weaker economy.
At least the country should be getting healthier as a result.
Such a difficult one this….
The pub was perhaps a central part of the British way of life, and smoking was no doubt also central to our way of life also -
(just look at old TV ads, ” you’re never alone with a Strand, …”cool as a mountain Stream” -menthol impregnated “consulate” cigarettes … and if you really wanted the hard stuff, how about Players Medium, and Players Navy Cut? no filter tips on those ones!)
So .. most of that’s gone now, and we are left with a Pub industry that seems to be in decline - but - is that due to no smoking?
What is evident here is that, if you go to the continent, the level of service in Bars and Cafes seems to be much higher.
There also seems to be a much lower level of “drunkeness” about.
In short, the whole experience of going out for a drink etc seems to be much more enjoyable - even though some places are not smoke free.
Maybe we can learn something from this in binge drinking UK.
The only remaining problem is that, if everyone gives up smoking - where does all the lost tax revenue come from? (extra tax on fuel maybe?? !!)
We should all be glad that the labour government had the ‘balls’ to ban smoking, lots of people thought it wouldnt work and complained about nonesense about civil liberties but its been a massive and undenyable success which will be a positive legacy for years to come
Watch out - they’ll ban something you like doing next. Typical Socialist/Stalinist authoritarian ‘control’ state. Ban in genuine public areas OK , libraries, schools, hospitals etc ; but how the heck can they ban smoking in PRIVATE BUSINESS PREMISES like pubs ? Nobody was ever forced into a pub (or forced to work in one) It should bve down to landlord to decide, and if his customers don’t like the smoking policy they can vote with their feet.
Yeah what if they banned rugby that’s bad for your health?? But also good for your health!! I guess my playing rugby doesnt impact on others in the same way as passive smoke pollution does though hey?
Many pubs have built lovely outside smoking areas, and usually with heaters. As an occasional smoker I actually prefer it this way as do many of my friends. It hasn’t changed the frequency of my visits to bars or restaurant’s. What has altered my frequency of visits is the rising cost of living generally.
There are few things that are as harmful to the health of the general population as smoking. Smoking is an obvious issue to target and I believe it has been done successfully. Its about the only thing this Labour government has got right though!
thousands less smokers, hundreds less corpses, billions less cost for the NHS, well done to the government for banning smoking in public places, a great policy which has improved all our lives
Speak for yourself. It hasn’t improved my life ; it means I can’t sit down out of the cold with a pint and a fag, even if someone opens a private ’smokers-only’ bar and staffs it with smokers. Ridiculous ! And by the way, smokers actually SUBSIDISE the NHS, the tax on cigarettes covers the cost of treating smokers several times over.
I stopped drinking in pubs the minuter this stupid ban came in to effect and what i used to spend now gets spent at sainsburys. A few cans and a few friends (smokers)
who cares if all the pubs close, a smoker who wants to smoke will smoke and a person who wants a beer will drink one, neither needs a pub
Live with it you whingers
I think it’s great!
Since the smoking ban and the high price of a pub drink our underground smokers club has really been a hit.
Cheap booze, imported fags and live music. It’s the way forward for me, a minimum wage earner.
Presumably it’s called ‘The Smoke-easy’??
I’ll drink to that.