Vintners deny business is up after smoking ban

PUBLICANS and the Office of Tobacco Control (OTC) have clashed over the economic effects of the smoking ban.

OTC chairman Dr Michael Boland said business in pubs had risen in the last three months following a four-year decline. The organisation also claimed the number employed in the hospitality industry in the first three months of this year had increased.

"An evaluation of the official hospitality sector data shows there has been no adverse economic effect from the introduction of this measure. Bar retail sales in volume terms have increased during the last three-month period (year-on-year) following a four-year decline.