Will banning of bad language be a curse for pubs?

English brewery Sam Smith’s will no longer tolerate swearing on its premises, not from customers or staff. It remains to be seen if this will affect sales, says Jonathan deBurca Butler

LAST month, independent English brewery chain, Sam Smith’s, announced that it was adopting a ‘zero tolerance’ policy on the use of bad language in its 200-plus public houses.

Paradoxically, the most immediate effect of the edict from head office was probably an outpouring of expletives and profanities from managers and regulars alike.