Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Russ D
The new place has only been open a few weeks.
Are you under the impression that I'm suggesting that pubs will be kept in business by non-smokers? Because as far as I'm aware, I've never said or implied that.
|
Oh definitely, I don't want to come across as suggesting you said that at all because you never did
If I understand something you said a little while back, you're for more choice than a ban, such as more establishments becoming non-smoking on their own accord rather than being forced to by legislation.
Why I appear to be harping on about The Lounge is because you've given us an actuall example of a pub which had decided to become non-smoking, and closed down afterwards.
Now, given that the new owners have not continued with the non-smoking status, this suggests that they do not see it as a good business venture, which suggests that it was also not a good business venture for the previous owners and led to them selling up.
If over a similar length of time, and also without the business aid packages, the new Lounge is a success, we can infer from this that as a smoking establishment, it is able to survive whereas a non-smoking establishment, it faltered.
This has serious implications on the impact of such a ban on other establishments.
Pubs which don't serve food will be unaffected.
Pubs which currently do server food will have to decide whether to continue with food and hope they don't loose on the more profitable drink sales, or give up serving food which leads to more people drinking on an empty stomach, and you know what effect that has!