Scottish smoke ban takes toll
26 March, 2008
Three hundred and fifity pubs shut in two years since ban began
A total of 350 pubs have closed in Scotland since the smoking ban was introduced two years ago today.
The number, from CGA research, is double the amount predicted by the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA) at the outset.
SLTA chief executive Paul Waterson said: “It confirms what our members have been telling us and what we have seen for ourselves.
“We see the ban as having been great for supermarket drink sales – nothing else.
“The new customers we were promised didn’t arrive, and even the loyal regulars definitely go to the pub less often, and spend less.”
It’s a view shared by licensee James Hughes of Utopia bar in Edinburgh’s Easter Road.
He said: “We’ve seen customers do the obvious - buy drink from supermarkets, where it’s a fraction of the price, and take their cigarettes home where they can do what they like.”
Outspoken opponent of the ban Mary Moriarty, of the Port o’ Leith Bar, said: “Everyone would have accepted a partial ban, but they weren’t having it – so they have ruined perfectly good bars for no good reason whatsoever.”
She added: “It isn’t over. Next they’ll try to stop you smoking outside pubs altogether – it’s already happening.”
The Scottish Beer & Pub Association accepts some recent closures are due at least partly to the effects of the ban.
But chief executive Patrick Browne said: “Things have been tough for some operators, much tougher for some than others, but the vast majority have emerged stronger as a result of the smoking ban and with a much stronger customer offer thanks to developing their food product and diversifying their businesses.”
And Glasgow trade entrepreneur Colin Barr, who this month launched his fifth Republic continental-style beer-with-food venture in the city, said: “The ban was the best thing that ever happened to bars, and in my pubs we saw takings rise 50 per cent almost overnight.”
Readers' comments
Why can't pub owners and smokers stand up to the government. Whether you agree with the ban or not, what it has done is change the relationship between those behind the bar and the customer... either through trading on the friendship and loyalty of smoker to landlord (aware that the landlord takes the brunt of smoking fines) or requiring landlords to take harsh action against customers, by threatening or actually banning them.. Lets imagine, one night all the smokers in a town light up.... all the pubs tell them not to... then when ignored all the landlords call the police or smoking line and report the smokers... The landlords cannot be punished for alowing smoking for they have done everything within the law to prevent it on their premises.... are the police/smoking police going to come to hundreds of pubs and arrest all the smokers... it would at last show how disgraceful this legislation is in pitting fellow citizens against each other, to spy on each other... and it would show that this kind of micro tampering by government, which blights our lives in many more ways that the smoking ban, is actually unworkable without the co-operation of the people. To think every night millions of people in quiet back street pubs think of the gvt every second of the evening...that the goverment has got this power now over the lives and thoughts of every smoker and landlord... time to stand up for ourselves...
Excuse me but I didn't start going to my local because I wanted it to 'develop their food product and diversify their business' Thats for restaurants and wine bars. GIVE ME MY PUB BACK
as a pub manager myself both pre and post ban, I have seen very little negatives from it. our pubs our cleaner, healthier and nicer places to visit... the ones who struggle always seem to be the ones who spend more time moaning about change than actually doing something about it within their businesses! The ban is here, it's not going to go away. start embracing it and learning from those who are becoming more succesful or prepare to look for a new career.... fail to prepare and you must be prepared to fail!
It is hard to believe that the smoking ban can be good for the trade, when it forces licensees to show their customers the door. This is the opposite of hospitality.
Why oh why won't the Trade Associations say enough is enough and start fighting this smoking ban. Soon their associations won't exist because there will be no members left, it is time to forget about looking for other reasons why pubs are closing - the answer is right in front of your eyes - THE SMOKING BAN. Even an ostrich only sticks it's head in the sand, the trade associations have their's up their ars*s.