Smoking ban ‘to hit vending business’

CIGARETTE machine operators have warned 150 small businesses will go bust and 450 people will lose their jobs following the introduction of the smoking ban.

The Irish Cigarette Machine Operators Association said publicans, in a bid to discourage smoking on their premises, can be expected to have the machines removed within weeks of the January 1 ban.

It will destroy a €300m-a-year business, it is claimed. “As an industry we are out of business. It’s as simple as that,” said association vice-chair Gerry Lawler following the launch of a survey that claims a large number of females are worried about leaving their drinks unattended and fear for their personal safety while smoking outside the pub.

More than 1,000 adults were questioned for the survey, commissioned by the association and carried out by Landsdowne researchers.

It found 68% of females were worried about leaving their drinks unattended and 42% feared for their personal safety while smoking outside a pub.

Younger adults are more concerned about the effects of a ban, believing it will affect venues’ atmospheres, the survey claimed. The poll shows 51% of younger adults believe the ban will lead to an increase in street violence while 20% feel it will have no effect.

Most people would not ask a smoker to stop if someone lights up.

“That’s one of the things that is the most startling. The government believes in using peer pressure to police the ban. The survey clearly shows that 72% will not do that.”

Professor Luke Clancy, chairman of the anti-smoking group ASH, said he hopes the cigarette vending business will be affected by the ban, but he questioned whether publicans will pressure the operators to remove machines from premises.

“We have been vocal in the past to try and get vending machines made illegal,” said Professor Clancy.