29th March
Smoking Ban - Bad for Business
Dublin publicans say the first year of the smoking ban has been bad for business. The Licensed Vintners Association says draught beer sales in 2004 dropped 13 percent in the city, and claim 2,000 jobs have been lost in Dublin pubs. But surveys released to mark the ban's first birthday suggest more people staying out of the local as a result of high prices than leaving because of the smoking ban.

29th March
Smoking Ban - Bad for Business
Dublin publicans say the first year of the smoking ban has been bad for business. The Licensed Vintners Association says draught beer sales in 2004 dropped 13 percent in the city, and claim 2,000 jobs have been lost in Dublin pubs. But surveys released to mark the ban's first birthday suggest more people staying out of the local as a result of high prices than leaving because of the smoking ban.

29th March
Smoking Ban - The Stats!!
A new survey has reportedly found that the workplace smoking ban is causing a fall-off in pub business, but high prices are having a much more detrimental effect.
Reports this morning said the study by Millward Browm IMS found that 17% of adults were going to the pub less because of the smoking ban, but 28% were going less because of high prices.
The survey found similar attitudes to restaurants, with 9% of respondents saying they were eating out less because of the smoking ban and 22% saying they were being put off by high prices.
The research was published today to coincide with the first anniversary of the introduction of the smoking ban as a measure to protect workers from second-hand smoke.
Another survey commissioned by the Office of Tobacco Control has found that 98% of people believe workplaces are healthier as a result of the ban.

28th February
Irish Alcohol Prices - Not Smoking Ban - Hurting Pub Sales
By Kieran McDaid, PA

Irish pubs are losing customers due to the cost of drinks and not as a result of the country's smoking ban, it was claimed tonight. Action on Smoking and Health (ASH) Ireland insisted a report alleging the workplace smoking ban had cost the country's pubowners 117 million euro (£80 million) was grossly misleading and inaccurate.
"Well established research carried out both before and after the Irish ban shows a drop in alcohol sales in Ireland can be attributed to many factors, primarily the cost of alcohol products," a spokesman said.
"The trend of a reduction in alcohol sales in Ireland, which in itself must be welcomed, was well established prior to the workplace smoking ban legislation."

A study by the Centre for Economics and Business Research, commissioned by campaigners against plans for a ban in Scotland, found the workplace smoking ban had hit income and job levels in the Irish hospitality industry. But the ASH spokesman claimed the smoking legislation had been an unprecedented success since its introduction almost a year ago with 97% compliance in pubs and massive public support. "Since the ban Dublin pubs have, for example used the 'clean air' message as part of a marketing campaign," he said. "Asthmatics and others seriously affected by passive smoke can now use Irish pubs and enjoy them for the first time. "During the lead-in to the introduction of the Irish legislation, seriously misleading figures and scare mongering were used by large commercial vested interests.

"Thousands of job losses and pub closures ? that were predicted ? have not happened," he added. Dominic Walley, managing economist at the Centre for Economics and Business Research, stood by the results of the study. "Our research shows that smoking bans can seriously damage the health of the pub and restaurant sector," he said. "The initial evidence from Ireland is clear: smoke-free pubs and restaurants have fewer customers and lower revenues. "There may be a good health justification, however, anti-smoking legislation is not cost-free, especially when it is extended to cover businesses that depend on the custom of smokers."

Paul Waterson, of the Scottish Licensed Trade Association, said he was not surprised by the figures. "We've always said this would lead to a downturn in business, despite claims smoke-free pubs would attract more customers," he added. European countries such as Norway and Italy have already followed Ireland in banning smoking in workplaces. Smoking will also be banned in the majority of public places in England in the coming years, with pubs and bars not serving food exempt from the changes announced in the Public Health White Paper last year.

The Scottish authorities are also considering a possible ban. But many in the industry across the UK have claimed voluntary measures, such as providing smoke-free areas, better ventilation and banning smoking at the bar, are adequate to protect the rights of both smokers and non-smokers.

23rd February
Drink Prices
In advance of the Ireland/England International rugby match on 27 February, inspectors from the Office of Consumer Affairs carried out a survey last week of 19 licensed premises in the vicinity of Landsdowne Road to establish the prices displayed in the bar areas, in respect of nine different drinks.

The survey indicated that there was a significant disparity between the cheapest and dearest prices, such as €1.45 for Guinness, €1.65 for spirits and 95c for sparkling water. Ryan's Beggars Bush were the cheapest in respect of all the drinks surveyed. Depending on the type of drink, the highest prices were found in three separate premises. The Horseshoe Bar at the Shelbourne Hotel was the dearest for Guinness, Smithwicks, Budweiser, Paddy, Smirnoff and CDC Gin. The Ginger Man, Fenian Street was the dearest for Bulmers cider. O'Donoghues, Merrion Row were the dearest for cola and sparkling water. The table below gives details of the prices.

Commenting on the findings of the survey, the Director of Consumer Affairs, Carmel Foley said "It will be interesting for rugby fans to see if they are charged higher prices on Sunday. Such a practice is not illegal once the higher price is clearly displayed. However, consumers frequently feel aggrieved at price hikes that take advantage of fans at sporting events."

19th February
Drink Sales Fall
Drinks group Diageo, which owns Guinness, has said its Irish sales volumes fell 3% in the six months to the end of December compared with the same period a year earlier.
The company said the results reflected the continuing shift from pubs to home drinking, which was exacerbated by the smoking ban introduced in March.
The volume of Guinness sold fell 1%, though higher prices pushed the value of sales up by 5%. In the pub market, which accounts for 80% of Guinness sold, the drink's market share edged up one percentage point.
Diageo said spirits performed well, with Baileys and Smirnoff volumes up 6% and 12% respectively, but a cool summer and increasing competition in off-licences dragged volumes of lager and Smithwick's down 10%.
Overall, Diageo's interim pre-tax profits fell 4.8% to just over £1.2 billion, with volumes up 5% in North America but just 1% in Europe.

19th February
Pub News Relaunched
It's been gone a while but Pub News is back and will be regularly updated over the coming months bringing you all the pubs news as we get it.

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