Some good may come from ban

So WF Kerswell (letters, September 15) believes that the smoking ban will result in many pubs becoming insolvent. This seems unlikely, as it did not happen in Ireland or Scotland, though there was a small downturn in alcohol sales in these countries.

Knowing this would be the case, and to head off resistance from the hospitality industry, the Government did provide a sizeable carrot to them in the form of extended license hours; guaranteeing the profitability of the large pub chains.

But would it be so bad if there was a reduction in alcohol sales in England and Wales too?

Alcohol is responsible for a great many social ills and costs the exchequer billions.

David Morgan, Pontesbury