A full ban on smoking in pubs is looking more likely now that Tony Blair says he won't block it in favour of a partial ban (ie for pubs that serve food). Guardian story here .
Recent research into the effects of the workplace smoking ban in Ireland found much improved lung health in bar workers and better air quality in pubs (press release here). This research didn't look at the economic impact of the ban, but the Irish Office of Tobacco Control, in Smoke-free workplaces in Ireland; a one year review, reported:
"Bar sales declined in volume by 4.4% in 2004, while the decline for the previous year was 4.2%. Economic analysts suggest that this continuing downward trend is due to a number of factors including high prices, changing lifestyles, shifting demographic patterns."
It also needs to be set against a general decline in bar sales since 2001.
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