Smoking ban causes job losses in Scotland

A third of Scottish pubs have reported laying off staff due to the smoking ban, a survey of landlords claims.

With the first anniversary of the ban approaching, the survey suggested that drink sales remained 11% below pre-ban levels and food sales were down 3%.

Many licensees reported a drop in how often people go to the pub, with 56% noting fewer visits by regulars.

About one-third of pub bosses also complained of fewer visits from new customers.

The SLTA sent surveys to all its 1,500 members but only about one-third responded.

Paul Waterson, SLTA chief executive, said the industry had suffered “collateral damage” in a war between the Scottish Executive and the tobacco industry.

“We were never properly and fairly consulted on the ban and our warnings were ignored – now we have to live with the consequences of losing loyal workers and pubs being under threat,” he said.

“What really concerned us is that national and local government have been totally unhelpful.

“We were given the regulations on how to set up smoking facilities absurdly late, and now four in five of our members find their local authorities no help at all as they try to create covered outside areas to enable their businesses to survive.”

The poll found that 42% of landlords had invested more in outdoor facilities, but 81% said their local council had been unhelpful or a hindrance.

“This whole sorry episode was completely avoidable but the executive were so keen to jump on the Irish bandwagon that they didn’t want to listen to any advice,” Mr Waterson said.

He said the executive’s “deafening silence” over tobacco sales and the number of people quitting smoking indicated that the ban had hit the industry rather than the intended target.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/6478369.stm