Is the smoking ban over the top ?.

[bhaexpress]

Someone drinking in a pub does not directly affect the health of the pub workers and clientelle.
FACT

It can do if they're drunk, very badly sometimes.

 

[Grendel]

Will it kill pubs, why should it, you go there for beer and company not to pollute the atmosphere?

A 16% drop in trade in Ireland.
2,000 of 14,000 jobs in pubs lost in Dublin.
Wetherspoons predict a 7% decrease in trade as a result of their banning smoking.
Estimated cost to the pub industry once ban comes in is £230 million.
64% of regular (3 or more times a week) pub goers smoke.

If banning smoking in pubs made financial sense, every pub in the country would have banned it voluntarily long ago. As it happens, they haven't, because most licensees know that it will hit their business.

 

[Rangdo]

You take your kids to the PUB!

They've got to start sometime.

 

[Grendel]

As I said yesterday, you're over-reacting.

So why are publicans saying that their trade has been affected? I haven't seen any reports suggesting that trade has increased as a result of the ban.

 

[Heffle Gull]

I find it ironic that one of the few places that will not be affected by the ban is the Houses of Parliament

One rule for them and another for the rest of us

 

[bhaexpress]

I did a roll out at British American Tobaco's
new head office on the Embankment. That was built and had three times the amount of air conditioning fitted as being a tobaco company they allowed smoking. They even had a tray of cigarettes on the reception counter.

Wonder what they'll do now. Ironically some of their staff were non smokers and moaned about the fact that smoking was permitted in that building. I could never quite get that.

 

[Hannibal smith]

Now I believe this to be totally over the top and typical of Labour's nanny state whereby they are not happy with medical advice and recommendations they WILL tell you what to do.

Can't really blame Labour for this one. All MP's had a free vote and the majority returned was over 200. Not like the single figures in recent weeks.

Anyway, banning Smoking is a good thing (Like Chappers I went to New York and not having clothes smelling of fags after you come home swung it for me). In 20 years time, everyone will wonder why a substance so harmful wasn't banned in pubs before, similar to how we now view smoking at work.

 

[Cian]

So why are publicans saying that their trade has been affected? I haven't seen any reports suggesting that trade has increased as a result of the ban.

Because the Irish Vitners Federation are moaning bastards, determined to force the state to reduce duty on alcohol by any means possible, including regular threats - over the past ten years - about "jobs will go!!". They latch on to whatever is the most recent issue - and as duty hasn't risen (its even gone down for microbreweries), the smoking ban is still the most recent one. Before that, it was the huge hike in duty on cider.

Those 2000 jobs lost - were jobs lost to Irish people. Guess what? Them, and more, have been filled with people from other EU states. Funny the IVF don't tell you that, do they....

There are more people employed in the bar and restuarant trade in Dublin now than before the smoking ban, pure and simple.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

I ask again, why does the government not ban smoking and ban all cigarettes.

 

[London Calling]

A 16% drop in trade in Ireland.
2,000 of 14,000 jobs in pubs lost in Dublin.
Wetherspoons predict a 7% decrease in trade as a result of their banning smoking.
Estimated cost to the pub industry once ban comes in is £230 million.
64% of regular (3 or more times a week) pub goers smoke.

If banning smoking in pubs made financial sense, every pub in the country would have banned it voluntarily long ago. As it happens, they haven't, because most licensees know that it will hit their business.

Basically these figures are bollocks.

£230 million lost to the pub trade is minute in relation to the whole licensing trade, plus it ignores the new income they will get, the vast reduction in cleaning and refurbishment costs.

Plus what will the smokers be doing? Are they also giving up drinking? If Yes. in terms of health that is a great progression forward.

If no, they are still spending cash on beer etc and that money is still going into the drinks trade, just through another spending line. The brewary's having been one of the biggest pushers for a total ban because they wanted an equal playing field and they could see the overall benefits.

 

[CHAPPERS]

The pub is a completely different kettle of fish to the tube or bus. You go to the pub to relax in your leisure time and for many people its a pint and a fag. I wouldn't dream of lighting up in a restaurant or even at the Withdean in the open air but pubs and clubs could easily have smoking areas , well ventilated without imposing at all on non smokers or offending the very spurious passive smoking campaigners.

It just smacks of over zealousness from " superior " non smokers , intolerance and big brother / nanny state.

Visit somewhere taht has a smoking ban in place and you might change your mind. Don't dismiss it out of hand.

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

I wish I was a non smoker, non drinker, healthy eater, regular exerciser, non stresser

BUT LIFE JUST AINT LIKE THAT

I NEED MY VICES

 

[Hannibal smith]

I ask again, why does the government not ban smoking and ban all cigarettes.

Well, we all know the answer to that. The huge amounts of revenue the government make from Taxation on Fags. From a totally selfish point of view, that's great, rather that than me having to pay more for Petrol or on the basic rate of income tax.

 

[Man of Harveys]

My biggest concern about all of this is the future of something like Harveys, which (sadly) you can't buy in Tesco's and which tests best on draught, in a pub. It will put people off going to pubs, without a doubt.

 

[Hannibal smith]

Gareth

Looks like you've got the big 3 on Vices. Fags, Booze and Gambling.

You must be brassic.

 

[Grendel]

Basically these figures are bollocks.

Really? Please explain your reasoning, given that they are factual figures derived from independant studies.

Because the Irish Vitners Federation are moaning bastards

I'll ask again. Why are there no reports on how much trade has improved? Surely if it was such a great success then at least the industry journals would be reporting it? Funny how they aren't...

 

[Cian]

I'll ask again. Why are there no reports on how much trade has improved? Surely if it was such a great success then at least the industry journals would be reporting it? Funny how they aren't...

Because trade hasn't improved because its been pretty much level or slowly decreasing since about 1995. The smoking ban, which may I say here is a ban on smoking in all enclosed workplaces, NOT just pubs - has done nothing to hasten the decline.

I notice you've neglected to reply to the rubbishing of your "2000 of 14000 jobs lost" figure...

 

[Blackadder]

I finally gave up smoking 18 years ago (after a few attempts). I'm pleased it's been banned.

I reckon I must smoke the equivalent of 2 / 3 of other people's fags on a night out and my clothes stink of tobacco the next day.

However, I don't want to be a total killjoy, and I wouldn't have a problem with private clubs allowing smoking. Those that wish to smoke themselves to death can go there and the rest of will be able to choose whether we want to endanger our health or not.

 

[Grendel]

Because trade hasn't improved because its been pretty much level or slowly decreasing since about 1995. The smoking ban, which may I say here is a ban on smoking in all enclosed workplaces, NOT just pubs - has done nothing to hasten the decline.

I notice you've neglected to reply to the rubbishing of your "2000 of 14000 jobs lost" figure...

So why are the BII, The Publican, The Morning Advertiser etc. etc. all saying that trade has decreased dramatically - i.e. beyond what was expected? None of them have an agenda on the subject to push.

Back up your statement that jobs have increased, and I'll respond to your "rubbishing" of my statement.

 

[London Calling]

Just another point about bar staff, if you were to ask most people, given the two options

Your life or your job?

I know what I would choose and knowing Dublin very well, and having been there frequently over many years, I personally haven’t noticed a difference. I have no recollection in one in 7 pubs being closed?

Or are the jobs losses as MYOb suggest just totally fictitious or are they just the poor bloke who had to clean the cig trays out?

Who knows how it will work out. All we do know that some people like me will enter pubs with my family, the health of workers in the entertainment industry will improve and probably the lungs of most pub goers will improve.

And my clothes won't have to be washed everytime I fancy a pint out!