Pubs selling seven million fewer pints

DRINKERS downed seven million fewer pints last month in a sales slump publicans have blamed on the smoking ban.

The country's largest publicans' organisation is now calling on the Government to row back on its no-butts legislation and allow smoking indoors in specially designated areas.

The Vintners Federation of Ireland (VFI), which represents 6,000 publicans, said its members had suffered a 15-20% drop in business since the ban came into effect on March 29 and their suppliers' trade was down as much as 25%.