Mirror report cause for concern
Sunday, July 29, 2007 
Thousands of pubs, bingo halls and working men's clubs could be at risk because of the smoking ban, a report in today's Sunday Mirror suggests.
"Pub takings are down by as much as 40 per cent as smokers choose to drink at home, say landlords in the first major survey into the impact of the month-old ban. Small town-centre pubs and bars in inner-city areas are the worst affected with profits down an average 20 per cent, mainly because they have no outside area for smokers to light up."
Critics will argue that it's not a large survey - the paper contacted just 70 pubs, members-only clubs and bingo halls - but as Richard, a reader of this blog, points out, the report appears in a Labour-supporting newspaper so there is no question of political bias (other than 'New' versus 'Old' Labour).
Full story HERE. I suggest that everyone sends a copy to their MP with a covering note (making it clear that you expect a reply, which we would be interested to read).
Reader Comments (9)
This is shocking news, no one could have possibly seen this coming. After all the government told everyone how there was no significant problem from bands in NYC and Ireland. But then again do you think MPs or the government really care?
As I commented regarding lies, a pub in Bury St Edmunds is losing about £500 per week.
I just cant believe the total apathy of the majority of landlords and licencee`s and the brewers.The smoking ban was well publicised,we all knew it was coming(communist Britain).So why the hell didn`t they consolidate and stand up and say "NO".........Next thing will be astronomic tax hikes on beer,spirits etc to combat "binge drinking".And all will still stay silent and uncomfortably compliant.
Britain...Land of the free...providing you adhere to an unelected criterea.
Simon suggests everyone sends a copy of the article to their MP with a covering note (making it clear that you expect a reply, which we would be interested to read).
From what I know of MPs Simon, especially Labour ones, we might as well be writing to the inhabitants of Battersea Dogs Home.
My local MP is Bridget Prentice, whom I once got in touch with regarding a missing passport. Her reply was "well they will send you another one, don't worry, we have thousands and thousands go missing every month". When I tried pointing out to her that with all the threats of terrorism we have, that passports going missing was a very serious matter and that they should be sent by registered or recorded post, this ridiculous excuse for an MP told me that sending by this method would add up to an extra one pound on each passport, so "shut up and stop moaning". These were not her exact words of course, but that was the general context of her letter, and with this she point blank told me that she did not intend to get into a long drawn out discussion on the matter, so don't expect any further answers.
This is an example of the average Labour MP, which you are suggesting we write to and expect answers from, thick as planks and as uncaring as.....well I don't know what to compare them with. I wouldn't want the Canine Defence League to think I held a personal grudge against them.
Politicians don't seem to care one jot for *actual* public opinion. Not when they can look at statistics presented to them by vested interest groups and decide that *that* is public opinion.
This saves them the hassle of ever having to dirty their hands with us mere mortals.
All they seem to care about is their career progression and their carefully sculpted veneer. We are supposed to simply believe that they 'work for us', no matter how strong the evidence to the contrary.
I am sick of the lot of them.
I am delighted that places are closing because we said it all along. I am glad that people are boycotting licensed premises because the licensed trade[with a tiny exception] did not try a jot to protect the rights of smokers. All they were interested in was their own interest and fought against compromise on the [level playing field] principle.
I do feel sorry for the elderly and infirm whose social lives have been destroyed by this vindictive piece of legislation but not for the proprietors and staff. If I had a penny for every member of barstaff or owner interviewed before the introduction of the ban extoling it's merits then I would be a rich man. It now appears that the turkeys voted for Christmas and I have no sympathy for them.
I have written to Tony Blair Gordon Brown Lord lamont David Davis Charles Kennedy Cherie Blair Alan johnson not just once but averaging on two letters a week opposing this smoking ban. The only person who sent me a reply that had a little content to the letter was Cherie Blair she said I quote......I cannot interfer with Government Polciy.I did recieve a letter from the dept of health on the matter which I am going to send back to Gordon Brown again with a letter of disaproval.I urge everyone to write to their MP or Gordon Brown I know you wont recieve a reply but it shows them people will not tolerate being dictated too.They make billions out of smokers and we should be treated better. SO WRITE TO THE PAPERS WRITE TO YOUR MP AND WRITE TO GORDON BROWN> DONT GIVE UP THE FIGHT!!!!
None of this is surprising at all as many of us who have been studying the hospitality market in America and Ireland are well acquainted with the fact that smoking bans are bad for business and not just pubs.
Also suffering are bingo halls, bowling alleys, lots of cafes, some restaurants, cigarette machine vendors and those who deliver supplies for brewereis as demand for liquor reduces due to decreased pub attendance.
Yes, ideed, writing to Labour MPs is like trying to communicate with a wall; they are unbelievably stupid, but then as their party has precious little to commend it these days and remains in office on sufferance and not by choice what can you expect?
Likewise Cameron. Initially stated he would amend the ban but then caved in to political corrrectness in case his chances of being elected were reduced. A spineless ninny indeed and when the Tory Party fails to recognise freedom of choice then it remains up to the public to fight the ban its own way - which some of it is, I will add.
Hi Blad,
I was DaveA on the Lancashire Telegraph putting Jon right on a few matters. In have also written to Enstrom asking about his funding. Anyway I too wrote to Ms Alice "I believe in Labour's spin on smoking" Sheffield. She is Cameron's correspondance secretary and not a dicky bird, arrogant so and so. I have even tried to phone her and my calls as you can guess go unreturned. Never give up I say.
Regards
Dave