[thenightwriterblog] The Night Writer: Pubs suffering in "Scotland the Smoke-free"

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Posted by The Night Writer:
Pubs suffering in "Scotland the Smoke-free"
http://thenightwriterblog.powerblogs.com/posts/1168358108.shtml


   The [1]countdown is on for state-wide smoking ban in Minnesota with
   competing prophecies of gloom and doom vs. fresh air and sunshine on
   what will happen. It is worth noting what actually has happened
   elsewhere.
   A nationwide smoking ban in pubs and restaurants went into affect in
   Scotland in late March of 2006, with many of the same arguments on
   both sides that we've become familiar with here in Minnesota. Shortly
   after the ban went into affect the [2]Cancer Research UK poll released
   results confidently predicting that Scottish pubs would benefit from
   the ban, citing poll results showing that 25% of those surveyed said
   they'd be more likely to visit a pub because of the ban. The poll also
   found that 10% said they'd be less likely to go to a pub.
   That 10% figure is especially interesting when you read [3]this
   article:

     The smoking ban in Scotland has seen a 10% decrease in sales and a
     14% fall in customers in pubs, according to a new study.
     The study carried out by Oxford University Press on behalf of the
     International Epidemiological Association compared sales before and
     after the ban at 2724 pubs â 1590 in Scotland and 1134 in northern
     England â where smoking is still permitted.
     The studyâs authors say this is the first major look at the smoking
     ban outside of the US â where trade has remained fairly constant.
     The report says: "These studies have mostly found no negative
     economic effects of such legislation on the hospitality sector in
     the long run.
     âHowever, differences in the social use of public houses in Great
     Britain in comparison with the US may lead to different findings."
     "Our study suggests that the Scottish smoking ban had a negative
     economic impact on public houses ⦠due in part to a drop in the
     number of customers.
     "The short-term impact of the ban did not lead to more customers
     coming into pubs due to the smoke-free atmosphere, and presumably
     did not lead smokers to spend more money on drink or food instead
     of smoking."
     The study backs anecdotal evidence from licensees north of the
     border.

   While the study makes a reference to similar bans in the U.S. having
   little affect on the bar and restaurant trade -- an assertion that
   bears further scrutiny -- it appears that the International
   Epidemiological Association must also acknowledge the statistics
   showing that harm has been done. In fact, if anyone is clearly
   benefitting from the ban it is the people hired -- at tax-payer
   expense -- to enforce the ban, as [4]reported here:

     A survey has found that some of Scotlandâs smoke ban enforcers are
     seriously under-employed with some councils' officers NEVER having
     issued a ticket.
     An investigation by Scotland on Sunday found seven councils,
     between them employing at least 11 full-time enforcers, have failed
     to issue a single penalty ticket or warning since they began work
     in March.
     It is estimated that the salary bill for these officers is around
     £220,000.
     Councils say there is more to the job than handing out fines,
     however Stewart Maxwell, the MSP who brought the original bill
     before the Scottish parliament said: "I always thought it would be
     self-policing. From the start I didn't think that it would be
     necessary to employ so many enforcement officers.
     "A lot of them were certainly doing a lot of work when the ban was
     brought in, including distributing posters, but I don't know
     whether this is still the case."
     Paul Waterson, chief executive of the Scottish Licensed Trade
     Association, said the money could be better spent compensating
     badly hit rural pubs.

   It appears that an addiction to bureaucracy is even harder to stamp
   out than a craving for nicotine. Actually, I know of many people who
   have been able to quit smoking, but I haven't heard of any government
   jobs being reduced. Has anyone ever tried to develop a "Bureaucracy
   Patch"?
   Of course, why worry about livelihoods when lives are at stake?
   Scottish Health Minister Andy Kerr responded angrily to the survey
   results, saying "There's a brutal answer to that. This is about public
   health, it's about saving lives - it's not about businesses." I'll bet
   newly unemployed Scottish pub and restaurant workers are already
   lining up to apply for jobs as government fat inspectors (fat in food,
   not government, of course) in anticipation of the next ban.

References

   1. http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/local/16406721.htm
   2. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/5113712.stm
   3. http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news_detail.aspx?articleid=25563
   4. http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news_detail.aspx?articleid=25406&categoryid=32