Why did the smoking ban kill pubs?

[Booldawg]

I've heard this said over and over again, but why? Surely people having to go outside to smoke hasnt stopped them going out and meeting friends in pubs. What do smokers do now for social interaction?

[cazzz1975]

pubs have been closing at a rate of knots since the 90's , before the smoking ban. The lack of pub business is more to do with the cost of a pint and the availablity of cheap supermarket booze

[Ethel]

I agree, combined with the expense of taxis and the risks of drink driving.

I think it is very much changing attitudes too. Younger married men don't go 'down the pub' leaving the wife at home as much as they used to and younger people prefer city centre pubs and clubs.
Leisure activities for the married man are more family orientated these days.

[dabees]

I agree with Cazzz's first point, but not the second. The ban on smoking has been the death-knell to the public house.

I smoke but agree that it's a horrible thing to make others suffer, but the loss of a social atmosphere is at a cost.

Too many of us are socialising via the internet (myself included) we are removing ourselves from personal interaction.

The cost of alcohol in public houses and the smoking ban has contributed to that.

People without a partner will end up relying on an internet connection and not a social network of friends.

The internet has many positives, but too may negatives also.

[cazzz1975]

I know a lot of younger people who never go to pubs, they would rather go to sports bars and clubs, I agree with ethel, smoking ban was just the last nail in an already established coffin

[truffles]

My reason for not going out is money as was costing �25 just for me in some pubs and taxi home and thats local. With a mixture of my housing costs, more tax on my wage and fuel costs ment i had no extra money left, so i make do with a bottle of wine at �2.49 and either stay in or go to a friends and i don't get stared at my strange men.

[tamborine]

Smoking in ventilated pubs smelt better than the fart filled smells in un-ventilated pubs & clubs now.

[Ethel]

Those pubs and clubs are still ventilated, tamborine.

I can't imagine what dirty dives you go to

[DrFilth]

the non smokers said if a ban came in they would start going to the pub .Well the ban is now in force where are all the non smokers. ?

i have never set foot in a pub or club since the ban started and i don't think i ever will.

the doctors today blame smoking for everything.

history books are being rewritten. the titanic only sank because the captain smoked a pipe.

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[chinadog]

Friends of our have had to close their pub, they said its cheaper for people to drink at home with booze from the supermarkets. They're taking over a bar in Corfu in 2 weeks.

[CheekyChops]

From my point of view...

My mates all smoke - they go out of an evening and generally don't mind going outside for a fag. Bring in rain or weather like we have this week and a local back street pub with no room or money for a dedicated outdoor, heated smoking area, they all go home earlier than normal so that they can have a fag.

It DOES stop some people going out, they stay at home instead with a load of fags and booze and some mates.

[Oneeyedvic]

As mentioend previously it has been a cumulative effect.

Another 'problem' with the smoking ban is the lack of money being taken in gambling machines. A lot of smokers (if in a group of non smokers) would go over to the slot machine and pump in a few quid whilst having a fag.

AWP machines are down by about 50% according to the publicans that I know.

[craft1948]

I'm with DrFilth on this - I have no intention of going to a pub, paying high prices for drinks and being invited to go outside in the peeing rain for a cigarette.
However, it is not just the smoking ban - about 20 years ago I used to deal with bankruptcies and the most dodgy job to have was that of publican (the safest was dentist)

[pusspuss]

The smoking ban's major casualties have been typical end-of-terrace neighbourhood pubs in towns and cities, which previously attracted smokers in for a regular pint and a chat.


Have a read of this from last year

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ir eland/7376279.stm

Why go to a pub , then stand outside in the snow and rain to have a cig. Best to get some beer in at home
The non-smokers will soon start filling up the pubs and bars.

And pink pigs will fly !

[pusspuss]

Darling: Smoking ban is closing pubs


11 December 2008
By Chris Visser
Chancellor Alistair Darling has admitted the smoking ban is forcing pubs out of business � and immediately come under fire from Preston landlords.
This year alone, 27 pubs in the city have closed, and licensees blame not only the "disastrous" ban, but also the high duty levied by the Government on alcohol.

Mr Darling told journalists at Westminster "there is no doubt the smoking ban made a difference" in killing off boozers after the British Beer and Pub Association told MPs the number of failing pubs is now "accelerating rapidly."

The BBPA estimates pubs are now closing at a rate of 27 a week.

[wasp]

I agree with Steve.5 on this one . The law of the jungle Only the strong survive. The smoking ban seems to have made the pubs much more competitive on price , the serving of food or entertainment as non competitive establishments go to the wall.

[dabees]

IF.... the law was repealed and public houses could chose between being a non smoking pub and a smoking allowed pub. Which would do the best business?

My local has two distinct rooms and could easily be separated as a smoking and non smoking establishment.

As long as you got rid of this countries litigious mentality and employed and allowed people to work in the environment they choose.

[wasp]

Dabees. I've lived in South Africa where this watered down version of a ban was in place. What happens is the majority , usually the smokers get the best facilities ie bands, big screen tv's , sea views etc. All the non smokers get hearded into a pokey back room . Still I suppose that's fair if you're a smoker..

[DrFilth]

wasp when do you get weather like we have in england.
-2 and snow and sleet.
would you travel to a pub to buy a pint and then go and stand in the snow to drink it, i think not ?



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ps last summer was the wettest for years, we did have a couple of days of sunshine and i mean a couple ?

[dabees]

Why though Wasp? I don't agree that a non smoker should have less facilities than a smoker. But surely what you say was done for a business reason?

As i said, smoking is something that shouldn't be pushed onto others. But many people smoke, it's not the worst crime imaginable. All i would ask is for a warm dry room that i could socialise with my friends.