Banning smoking could increase profits, says TUC

Banning smoking in pubs could increase profits, says to the Trades Union Congress (TUC).

New research by the TUC and Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), claims that analysis of 97 smoking studies carried out in eight countries suggests that there has been no negative impact on the profits of pubs, bars and nightclubs. The alternative, it claims, is a rise in compensation claims from workers suffering the effects of passive smoking.

Brendan Barber, TUC general secretary elect, said: "People who work in pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants need protecting, and the Smoking Charter backed by the tobacco industry will do nothing to save the lives of thousands of workers who are at risk every day from passive smoking."

But licensees fear that an outright smoking ban could lead to a huge drop in trade and a loss of jobs. The Publican's Market Report 2002, a survey of 750 publicans, showed that on average licensees thought they would lose around 39 per cent of custom if smoking is banned.

Pub operators and licensees have been signing up to the industry's voluntary Smoking Charter, which promotes self-regulation on smoking for the pub trade through the use of signage, good ventilation and no-smoking areas where possible.

Simon Clark, director of FOREST, the smoker's rights group said: "The industry has made considerable progress in recent years. There is an increasing number of smoke-free areas in pubs and restaurants, which we support, and air quality is improving all the time. The voluntary approach is working and it's preferable to legislation which would be very difficult to enforce."