US smoking ban claim rejected

CLAIMS that the smoking ban in New York has had a positive effect on the bar and restaurant trade in the city have been labelled a “complete distortion of the facts” by representatives of the hospitality industry.

United Restaurant and Tavern Owners of New York executive director Brian Nolan said rather than helping business, the ban has led to a downturn in custom and he predicted a similarly gloomy fate for Irish publicans when the ban comes in here.

"The reality is that the smoking ban is hurting New York publicans badly, and it will have the same, if not worse effect on Irish pubs," he said.