Impact of Smoking Ban In Scotland

[robbiedj]

I have been reading a report in The Stage about the effects of the smoking ban in venues in Scotland and it's impact on sales of drinks.

The figures are a lot higher than expected. Where a 5-7% drop in sales was predicted by the government, the actual figure is 11%. Some of the venues in Scotland are now looking at the possibility of suing the government for loss of trade.

If this trend is repeated when it comes into force south of the border I can see a mass loss of venues as those already struggling may well go under. This will have a huge impact on the entertainment industry as a whole.

[BeerFunk]

Where there are losses in some venues, there are equal gains in other venues - mainly venues which serve food, and/or have catered for smokers by providing facilities. I don't think you can capture a good picture of the overall effect until maybe march (ie. one year on from the implementation of the ban)

[Corabar Steve]

Where there are losses in some venues, there are equal gains in other venues - mainly venues which serve food, and/or have catered for smokers by providing facilities. I don't think you can capture a good picture of the overall effect until maybe march (ie. one year on from the implementation of the ban)
Are you a non smoker?

[Candybeatdiscos]

I am a smoker and i see both sides of the ban, i agree that non-smokers shouldn't be forced to breathe smoke etc, but also feel that smokers shouldn't be puntted outside to toxicate the kids walking past etc.

I have spotted a downturn in bookings for a few of the companies operating here - especially the karaoke and pub disco's - I myself have suffered as my local karaoke only pulls in 40 punters in a night yet previously there used to be about 70-80, and even then i get large gaps where people disappear outside for a fag etc, as i have said i have suffered as the landlord cannot afford to keep operating the karaoke due to downturn of trade...he has asked to drop the price which i agreed to for a wee while, that was 5 weeks ago, i took it up with him and together we agreed the karaoke has to go as he sometimes only gets 2 or 3 people at times....went past about 10 mins ago...no one in there at all.

so i want to sue the government for the downturn in my business as a result - do i have a case?

[Corabar Steve]

I would say so, but who ever wins against the government?

[Candybeatdiscos]

well my grandfather was Gordon Browns campaign manager for over 25 years...and GB is the MP for neighbouring constituency

[BeerFunk]

Are you a non smoker?
Yes, why?

[Corabar Steve]

Came across in your post, believe it or not.

I dont smoke anymore myself, but I don't see why smokers should be victimised or why businesses should suffer / go under, when non smokers have the option of not going to a venue if the smokey atmosphere bothers them so much.

[BeerFunk]

Came across in your post, believe it or not.

I dont smoke anymore myself, but I don't see why smokers should be victimised or why businesses should suffer / go under, when non smokers have the option of not going to a venue if the smokey atmosphere bothers them so much.
I don't see how, I thought I put across a pretty neutral comment! Oh well..

Also, I should point out that one of the reasons for the ban is to make venues healthy & safe for employees to work in. You may say 'they can just work somewhere else', but in many cases it is the best option open to some people.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Came across in your post, believe it or not.

I dont smoke anymore myself

You're turning into an Adam Ant song mate :omg: :teeth:

[Corabar Entertainment]

LOL :teeth: ..... I don't think he'll ever get the nickname of 'Goody-two-shoes' somehow! :omg:

[Have a disco]

No one ever forces non smokers to work in a smokers environment ie Public Houses / Hotels or Nightclubs, so they should have been forced to sign a declaration that should they had got cancer it would be there fault as they knew the risks and were warned likewise.

In a work place environment then Its up to the business owners, there was nowt wrong with a smokers room nor was there anything wrong with the original request for air conditioning in all premises.

The licenced trade is going to suffer big time in the UK and a lot of businesses are going to hit the wall. Especially in the WET led trades. I see nothing wrong with FOOD led trades banning it but not places that just do snacks like pre packed sandwiches kept in a fridge.

Its meant to be getting even more draconian. I here that councils will have the power to stop smoking in the high streets next with on the spot fines for dropping a butt as a littering offence etc etc. No smoking in your own car next as your partner may not smoke etc etc. Its getting more and more silly.

I Had a wedding that 75% of them spent most of the night on the balcony smoking which put the dampers on a good night I felt no matter what I played I felt I was playing to the neighbourhood on the lakes (setting myself up for a noise polution fine?)rather than the guests they were even dancing outside as to avoid stopping smoking.

Thankfully a good dance session came and everyone was cadjoled into putting there fags out and giving the bride & Groom a good ole dance to remember the night by they are eternally greatful and I managed to look great in difficult conditions. If this keeps up I can see less disco's being booked in the long term and my prices going up to make up for the loss financially and inconvienience of not being able to smoke at any venue????

[Corabar Steve]

No one ever forces non smokers to work in a smokers environment ie Public Houses / Hotels or Nightclubs, so they should have been forced to sign a declaration that should they had got cancer it would be there fault as they knew the risks and were warned likewise.

In a work place environment then Its up to the business owners, there was nowt wrong with a smokers room nor was there anything wrong with the original request for air conditioning in all premises.

The licenced trade is going to suffer big time in the UK and a lot of businesses are going to hit the wall. Especially in the WET led trades.
I was going to say something along those lines. The government would've made revenue on tax for instalations of air conditioners / scrubbers, now they are going to lose out on lost sales.

You can't say that people will just but from offies & drink at home. The revenue will still be less, people never drink as much at home as when they're out.
LOL :teeth: ..... I don't think he'll ever get the nickname of 'Goody-two-shoes' somehow! :omg:
I still drink, don't smoke, what do I do?

[theoloyla]

I agree. My gig on Saturday was in a marquee and despite the wet and windy weather half the audience were outside half the night smoking. The first dance was good and for about half an hour following but there was then a big hiatus until much later. If people are in the room and hear a song they like they will get up and dance. If they are outside they are less likely to. I am sure there will be a significant downturn in trade. It will affect the pub and club trade mostly as people will still get married and have a disco but it will still make them ultimately think if the disco doesnt succeed in entertaining if lots of the punters are not dancing in the room.

[Shaun]

On the plus side: I don't go home smelling like an ashtray every night. My equpment no longer smells of Regal King Size.


Sure people fleet back and forward from outside to inside more, but the smoking ban hasn't effected me personally. I'm all for it.

[Candybeatdiscos]

Its meant to be getting even more draconian. I here that councils will have the power to stop smoking in the high streets next with on the spot fines for dropping a butt as a littering offence etc etc. No smoking in your own car next as your partner may not smoke etc etc. Its getting more and more silly

I would appluad the council for fining someone who leaves cig butts on the ground, at the end of the day its not a nice thing to see (I am a smoker) but yeah at the end of the day this will affect every DJ at some point and I can't see a way how we can ultimatly reverse it

[Have a disco]

Convert all these One bar Pubs into 2 again like they use to be, a total reversal of what every pub group has systematically doing for years then have a smoking side and a non smoking side or main bar & Lounge bar (No smoking in the Lounge) as it use to be 20 years ago . Employ smoking staff within main bar areas and non smokers in Lounge Everyone happy then, and if non smokers want to risk going into main bar then its at there own risk with big warning sign taboot.....? Or force licenced premises to have a fully integrated extraction system as was promised by the pub groups and most failed there. Have Smoking and Non smoking bars seems best option

[BeerFunk]

Convert all these One bar Pubs into 2 again like they use to be, a total reversal of what every pub group has systematically doing for years then have a smoking side and a non smoking side or main bar & Lounge bar (No smoking in the Lounge) as it use to be 20 years ago . Employ smoking staff within main bar areas and non smokers in Lounge Everyone happy then, and if non smokers want to risk going into main bar then its at there own risk with big warning sign taboot.....? Or force licenced premises to have a fully integrated extraction system as was promised by the pub groups and most failed there. Have Smoking and Non smoking bars seems best option
I'm sure all smokers and non-smokers will unite to explain why that is such a silly suggestion! :omg:

[Corabar Steve]

I'm sure all smokers and non-smokers will unite to explain why that is such a silly suggestion! :omg:
I dont see as it's that silly.

I for one would welcome the return of 2 bar pubs, although the employment of smokers & non smokers to staff the different bars could prove problematic.

As I said earlier the best solution would've been the intergrated extraction systems that most of the pub co's promised but failed to deliver. & then it was too late.

[BeerFunk]

I for one would welcome the return of 2 bar pubs, although the employment of smokers & non smokers to staff the different bars could prove problematic.
Problematic/silly - it hasn't happened because it can't work.

You cannot hire someone on the basis that they smoke/don't smoke.

Where does the disco/karaoke/quiz go in such a pub by the way? :confused:

[Corabar Entertainment]

Where does the disco/karaoke/quiz go in such a pub by the way? :confused:The busiest side ;) :D

[BeerFunk]

The busiest side ;) :D
:teeth:

...and if it swings from side to side all night? :omg:

Kind of re-invents the term 'mobile disco' :)

[Corabar Entertainment]

Are you saying that people leave the pub when you're doing a job!?! :) :omg: :) :)

[Have a disco]

I would presume the main bar side where most seem to smoke in days of old

[Corabar Entertainment]

I would presume the main bar side where most seem to smoke in days of oldBut entertainment was traditionally provided in the lounge

[theoloyla]

Problematic/silly - it hasn't happened because it can't work.

You cannot hire someone on the basis that they smoke/don't smoke.

Where does the disco/karaoke/quiz go in such a pub by the way? :confused:
OH YES YOU CAN!!! There have been several news stories of people who have been discriminated against because they smoke. Adverts regularly appear in situations vacant with the condition "must be a non smoker" etc. I too think that a 2 bar system would have been far more sensible.

[Fresh]

suppose your free fog machines have gone :(.

Although i must agree, i prefer working in a non smoking evnironment, but do not want to enforce it on others, just a personal pref that non smokey is better.

[BeerFunk]

OH YES YOU CAN!!! There have been several news stories of people who have been discriminated against because they smoke. Adverts regularly appear in situations vacant with the condition "must be a non smoker" etc. I too think that a 2 bar system would have been far more sensible.
Aah, but there may be reasons why you can't be a smoker. I can't think of any reason why you would not be suitable for a job because you don't smoke... apart from 'because we don't want you to sue us if you contract cancer whilst working for us'

May I just add in at this point, how horrific it is to witness someone suffering from cancer (god forbid anyone here contracts it). Having seen the effects, I am 100% against smoking, and would like to think even though some smokers think they are hard done by because they have to go outside, they do see why it has been done.

[Have a disco]

May I just add in at this point, how horrific it is to witness someone suffering from cancer (god forbid anyone here contracts it). Having seen the effects, I am 100% against smoking, and would like to think even though some smokers think they are hard done by because they have to go outside, they do see why it has been done.

Right to upset the majority ask the japanese/chinese/indonese how come smoking can help them live longer??? most cancer is caused by what we eat not what we smoke this is an actual fact not fiction... Different lifestyles of food we eat dictates wether we live or die young whilst smoking?????????

This puts the kybosh on everything said or done todate Americans eat unhealthily where as Asian do not. We are fast following the yanks hence we are getting more cancer victims and yet we continue to blame smoking as the main cause... It is only a contributory factor all over the world otthe main cause of Cancer this I hate to say is a FACT

Time the do gooders got there facts right for once

[soundtracker]

OOh a fact - source please?

[BeerFunk]

Right to upset the majority ask the japanese/chinese/indonese how come smoking can help them live longer??? most cancer is caused by what we eat not what we smoke this is an actual fact not fiction... Different lifestyles of food we eat dictates wether we live or die young whilst smoking?????????

This puts the kybosh on everything said or done todate Americans eat unhealthily where as Asian do not. We are fast following the yanks hence we are getting more cancer victims and yet we continue to blame smoking as the main cause... It is only a contributory factor all over the world otthe main cause of Cancer this I hate to say is a FACT

Time the do gooders got there facts right for once
Cancer has been linked with many, many things - but the difference is scientific evidence to prove it almost beyond doubt. The only two things, that I know, which are proven to increase your chances of getting cancer are smoking and exposing yourself to the sun for too long.

However, there is talk of obesity overtaking smoking as the main cause of cancer, although the hard evidence is not there yet to back that up.

Anyway, getting *slightly* off topic (my fault, I know)...

[Have a disco]

try sourcing ASH or was it forrest and world health orginization which class AIDs as the main threat next to malnutrician smoking is well down there lists

But yes back on trak

banning smoking is already harming our industry and is liable to take anything upto 5 years to get on a level what it is today maybe even longer and it aint hit us yet

[Candybeatdiscos]

How long till the do-gooders ban pubs as alcohol related deaths are ever increasing? Then where do we make our living?

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

How long till the do-gooders ban pubs as alcohol related deaths are ever increasing? Then where do we make our living?

Kids discos? :teeth:

[Candybeatdiscos]

yeah money spinners

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Change your market then.

[Corabar Steve]

I too think that a 2 bar system would have been far more sensible.The Campaign starts here :teeth:

I can't think of any reason why you would not be suitable for a job because you don't smoke...working in the smoking bar of a 2 bar pub perhaps?? :teeth:

OOh a fact - source please?Lea & Perrins :teeth:

How long till the do-gooders ban pubs as alcohol related deaths are ever increasing? Then where do we make our living?Private functions, same as now :teeth:

[Have a disco]

they'll be wanting drinking non drinking sections next

[Corabar Steve]

they'll be wanting drinking non drinking sections next
Could work :teeth:

[Corabar Entertainment]

...but then won't you have to have drinking and smoking; drinking and not smoking; not drinking and smoking; not drinking and not smoking areas????? :teeth: :teeth: :teeth:

[Candybeatdiscos]

at the end of the day the do gooders will want pubs closed - cars to run on water with no fumes, no smoking even outside, you will need to pee at a certain angle etc etc etc...we would be as well as closing britain down completley

[Have a disco]

Already is happening look at the prime minister grinding to a halt already even LOL

[Candybeatdiscos]

so what do you think is gonna happen on that front? Gordon Broon or John Reid?