Pubs and the smoking ban (3)

After the letter by Revel Barker, let me clarify a few facts.

Firstly rather than takings being down by 20 per cent in Ireland, the Irish Central Statistics Office state that bar sales in Ireland have continued to rise steadily since the ban. Takings were down before the smoking ban came in due to changes in licensing laws and a price increase. So the smoking ban has reversed this trend.

Sales of cigarettes have increased. Smoking prevalence in Ireland has fallen to less than 24 per cent last year from 31 per cent in 1998.

The decline in smoking prevalence in the last four years is attributed to a range of factors including the smoke-free workplace law. There is overwhelming evidence to show how dangerous smoking is not just for the person smoking but also for people forced to work in smoky atmospheres.

These laws are not there to inconvenience people but to protect the health of workers exposed to second-hand smoke.

As far as the signs in England saying smoking is permitted throughout, this is not for much longer as the smoking ban comes into force next summer and I, for one, can't wait.