News Article Comments : Ban hits pub operators: half see profits dip 6%+

The damaging impact of the smoking ban one year on is laid bare in a survey of Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR) members, exclusively for the MA.

The survey of 14 companies — operating more than 1,300 pubs between them — found 36% saw sales fall more than 6% since the ban. Half said profits have fallen more than 6%.

Wet sales and AWP income has been hit the worst as many traditional beer-drinking, machine-playing customers stay away.

A total of 43% of operators said wet sales fell more than 6%, while 36% saw a decline of 1% to 5%.

More than two thirds — 71% — of companies saw machine income fall 6% or more.

“The Government needs to realise that pubs are having a difficult time after the smoking ban,” said ALMR chief executive Nick Bish.

But there is some positive news from the survey, with 29% of firms saying food sales are up more than 6% since the ban.

Bish added: “Food-led pubs are stable or showing marginal improvement as people stay longer, and the family t