UK: Public smoking ban hits pubs

Pubs have sold 175 million fewer pints last year as a direct result of the smoking ban, The Guardian cited market analysts AC Nielsen on July 6th.

Jake Shepherd, marketing director AC Nielsen, said: 'The winter months were particularly bad. Sales fell 9% through November to January when smokers would have been reluctant to stand outside in the cold to have a cigarette.'

Sales of wine were not hit as hard, dropping 4% after the ban. Shepherd said: 'Wine has held up somewhat better than other drinks, benefiting from the increasing importance of food and women to the trade.' Cigarette sales have dropped 6 per cent since 1 July last year with smokers buying 2 billion fewer cigarettes between 1 July 2007 and April 2008.

09 July, 2008