Research on smoke-free bars appears to be positive
New research from the United States claims that smoke-free bars and restaurants are a hit with customers and staff.
Six months after the introduction of the smoke ban in New York, the city has seen an increase of almost 10,000 jobs in the hospitality sector between March and June.
A new opinion poll by the Global Strategy Group, a market research company in New York, also found that 70 per cent of New Yorkers support the ban.
Deborah Arnott, director of the anti-tobacco campaigning group Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), said: "Eliminating tobacco smoke pollution from bars and restaurants is good for business and good for the health of customers and staff.
"It's time we in the UK followed the US example."
Case study: The Queen's Arms, Bakewell, Derbyshire
Steve Woodward runs the pub with his wife Debbie. He told The Publican: "We've made a personal and business choice and made the pub non-smoking in January of this year. We would not be doing the food sales that we are if the pub was all smoking.
"We have no smoking until 8pm and from then on we use our discretion. On a Friday and Saturday night we let most people smoke all night. But on other nights if we have a bunch of people who are still eating then we will keep it no smoking until they are finished.
"I don't think a blanket ban throughout the industry by the government is the right way to go. The government should let licensees decide what they want to do because punters will then vote with their feet and decide where they want to go.
"Sales have certainly improved, particularly with daytime sales of food. The spend of each customer has increased as well.
"People say to us, 'oh that's a good gimmick you've got going there', but it's not a gimmick, it's the way we want to go. Time will tell if we are right."
