The smoking ban in Scotland has reduced customer visits to pubs and has caused a 10% drop in drinks sales, according to new research from the Scottish Licensed Trade Association (SLTA).
In its survey of 365 SLTA members, 46% reported that customer visits had also fallen since the ban came into effect in March 2006.
A smaller number, 5% reported a rise in visitor numbers. In addition, 51% of respondents said that customers were spending less, with only 7% reported in increased visitor spending.
Wet sales were down 10%, and food sales dipped 3%, the survey reported.
Although 20% of venues reported an increase in new business from non-smokers, 17% said there had been less.
The ban had a particularly marked effect on pubs with no outdoor areas.
Of these, 2% reported an increase in visits from pub regulars, while 11% said that custom from new visitors had increased.
Conversely, for pubs with outdoor areas, 7% enjoyed added visits from regulars, and 26% saw additional visits from non-regulars.
Paul Waterson, chief executive of SLTA, said: “This ban will put some hard-working licensees out of business and many bar staff out of jobs. These results bear out what we have been hearing – many operations have been hit and some are suffering significant downturns in business.”
However, Francis Patton, customer services director of Punch Taverns, said: “The survey doesn’t mirror our own experience at all. We have invested heavily in creating outdoor areas for smokers and in expanding our food offer to offset any possible fall in sales of drinks. It is too early to say what the effect of the ban has been.”
Andy Kerr, Scottish Health Minister, said: “I have not met a single person who wants to turn the clock back. While it is too early to say precisely what the impact in Scotland is, there is no evidence to suggest that pubs, cafes or restaurants will go out of business as a direct result of the smoking ban coming into effect.
“Seven out of ten people don’t smoke and of those that do, seven out of ten want to give up. This represents huge marketing opportunities for the hospitality sector.”
