Smoking ban survey paints rosy picture

One in two pub-going non-smokers say they will visit community pubs "much more often" when smoking is banned, a new survey by Carlsberg UK has shown.

Around 30% said they would visit food-led pubs and "big night out" venues much more often, the survey of 1,200 smokers and non-smokers found.

However, a proportion of non-smokers will visit outlets "much less often" after the ban - 26% in community pubs and around 10% in food pubs and big night out sites.

Around 75% of smokers said they found the ban "unappealing", but many welcome the big stub-out.

Nearly one in three smokers at community pubs find the ban "appealing". The proportion is even higher in food-led pubs (40%) and big-night-out venues (45%).

The survey also shows lager drinkers are more likely to be smokers, with two thirds of frequent pub-going smokers saying they pick lager at the bar. "Outlets should consider the likely impact on their product mix depending on who their future customers are likely to be," Carlsberg's report advises.

The report also details three phases in customer behaviour after smoking is banned.

The "experimentation" stage, for the first three months, sees smokers looking to use pubs with best facilities or staying at home. Non-smokers, including many who don't regularly use pubs, visit "smokier" pubs to test the experience.

In the "adjustment" stage (four to 12 months), smokers return but spend less time and money. Most non-smokers find they do not like pubs and those that are converted do not become "regulars".

Finally, the "re-basing" stage (one to two years) sees a permanent change to customer habits, with food and events the most important reasons for visits. Some outlets will have closed.