BS: Smoking ban closing pubs, it's started!

Subject: RE: BS: Smoking ban closing pubs, it's started!
From: Becca72
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 07:27 PM

Sorry, Sorcha...just realized what I said implied all of the US. It's spreading quickly but here in Maine smoking in bars was banned 2 or 3 years ago to very little hubub.

Subject: RE: BS: Smoking ban closing pubs, it's started!
From: skipy
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 07:27 PM

I know one pub that is taking £3500 less a week! than normal, and one pub that has laid off 2 bar staff + another that is now open 4 day a week instead of 7, all very local

Subject: RE: BS: Smoking ban closing pubs, it's started!
From: Bill D
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 07:11 PM

some things WILL change for awhile, but life in general will be better in the long run.

Subject: RE: BS: Smoking ban closing pubs, it's started!
From: skipy
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 06:48 PM

Smoking population is 34%.
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: Smoking ban closing pubs, it's started!
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 06:42 PM

Doesn't seem to be making the slightest difference in my local. Except that it's a much more pleasant place to be. Same regulars, same numbers, the odd one pops out for a fag from time to time.

I'm sure there will be pubs where it will make a difference, for a time anyway. I mean, a pub where 90 per cent of the users smoked must have been a pretty extreme environment for the 70 or 80 per cent of the population who don't smoke, and they aren't going to change overnight the reasonable habit of giving it a wide berth. Give them time and they'll venture in, and the smokers are mostly going to adjust.

Subject: RE: BS: Smoking ban closing pubs, it's started!
From: Sorcha
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 06:32 PM

We can still smoke in bars in my town.

Subject: RE: BS: Smoking ban closing pubs, it's started!
From: skipy
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 06:26 PM

A small number! Google it!
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: Smoking ban closing pubs, it's started!
From: Becca72
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 06:12 PM

We banned smoking here in the States quite awhile ago now (2,3 years??) and at first the numbers of customers did drop a little bit. BUT, the nonsmokers who had been staying away because they didn't want to deal with the smoke started coming in, and the smokers eventually tired of their "Protest" and came back around. We had the same panicked "you can't ban smoking in bars or we'll go out of business!!" attitude here. And while I'm sure a small number did close the vast marjority are doing just as well if not better 2 or 3 years later.

Subject: RE: BS: Smoking ban closing pubs, it's started!
From: skipy
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 06:08 PM

I don't know them so I can't say, however I do know that thing around here are not going well at all.
Skipy

Subject: RE: BS: Smoking ban closing pubs, it's started!
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 06:06 PM

I'm tempted to say tough shit, but in reality, it will level out eventually, let's hope they can hang on.
G

Subject: BS: Smoking ban closing pubs, it's started!
From: skipy
Date: 31 Jul 07 - 06:03 PM

NOW BEHAVE & KEEP THIS RATIONAL!
Cut & paste:-
Smoking ban may cause pub to close

Smoking ban may cause pub to close
A TRADITIONAL pub in Redhill may be forced to close because the smoking ban has slashed trade by half.
Landlady of The Crown, in Nutfield, Sharon Murphy, has told the Surrey Mirror that the pub has lost half of its takings since the beginning of July when the ban was introduced.
The 46-year-old added: "I'm not even close to my targets. I used to make somewhere between £2,000 and £2,500 a week, but now its less than £1,000."
"I'm extremely worried about my job - if my takings are the same this week as last, I don't think we will survive longer than a month.
"If it has to close it will be very ,very sad - I've put everything into it and to lose it would be like losing a piece of myself."

Sharon said the loss of business means it is impossible for the pub to afford new shelters for smoking customers, or even cover costs in running entertainment at the pub, such as hosting a band.


Her 20-year-old son, Chris, who works at the bar five days a week said: "Ninety per cent of our customers are smokers and they just don't stay as long - instead of having two or three pints and a smoke they just have the one and leave."
Chris said The Crown has been closing early for the past few days because the smoking ban has killed trade.
"We could lose our jobs over this - it's really bad. We're both really stressed about things and it's not good for either of us."
Chris, who is a smoker, finds he cannot take cigarette breaks if there are customers in the pub because he is not allowed to leave the bar unmanned.
Sharon Murphy said she owes it to the customers to stay optimistic for the future and hopes things will improve once the ban has settled down, but remains angry at the Government for implementing an ill-thought out ban that has wrecked her business.
"I can't see any other reason why I've lost the trade that I have and the funny thing is the one bar you can smoke in is in the Houses of Parliament."
Skipy