Alcohol volumes down 8% post-ban
But the health of bar staff has improved
New evidence has emerged of the smoking ban's damaging impact on pubs — and the benefit to people's health.
On-trade alcohol volumes fell 8% in the nine months to March 2008 — with half of the decline attributed directly to the ban — according to new figures from AC Nielsen to mark the first anniversary of the big stub-out in England.
Around 175 million fewer pints were drunk as a result of the ban, Nielsen said.
"The winter was particularly bad. Sales fell 9.3% through November to January when smokers would have been reluctant to go outside," said Nielsen marketing director Jake Shepherd.
Wine sales were down 2% before the ban and down 4% since 1 July. Shepherd added: "Wine has probably benefited from the increasing importance of food and women to the on-trade."
New Department of Health figures show exposure to second-hand smoke among bar workers has fallen 76% due to the ban. There's been a 22% rise in the number of people quitting smoking.
Health minister Dawn Primarolo said: "It's clear the law is working. Bar workers are inhaling far less smoke and most people think the law has had a positive effect on the country's health."
Meanwhile, a poll of consumers from Nielsen shows 45% of people say they are more likely to visit pubs now they are smoke free. When asked before the ban, the figure was 60%. Overall, 44% visit licensed premises less often than before the ban.
Fight the Hikes hits GMTV
The MA's Fight the
Hikes campaign was given a boost this week when editor Andrew Pring appeared on GMTV discussing the smoking ban.
Pring told presenter Penny Smith that pubs will suffer further hardship if the Chancellor does not scrap his duty-escalator hikes planned for the next four years.
