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.

"The numbers employed in this sector in the first quarter of this year have increased to 23,200 up 1,400 from the previous quarter. This represents the most significant quarterly increase in employment since the second quarter of 2002."

However, the figures have been disputed by Seamus O'Donoghue, president of the Vintners' Federation of Ireland (VFI), representing publicans outside Dublin.

"The smoking ban has had an adverse effect on the industry. According to breweries, there has been a 5% downturn in trade directly attributed to the smoking ban.

"According to the Central Statistics Office, 7,600 jobs were lost in the hospitality sector last year. That's still a net loss of 6,200 jobs."

The VFI also claims that as many as 200 pubs, mainly in rural areas, have gone out of business since the smoking ban was introduced in March last year.

Tánaiste and Health Minister Mary Harney said the response from all sectors to the smoking ban had been "very positive with very high compliance levels."

"This reflects the goodwill that exists for a clean smoke-free environment in the workplace," she said.