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Smoke ban chokes pubs
02/06/2004 07:45 - (SA)
Dublin, Ireland - Dublin pubs are losing customers because of Ireland's decision to ban smoking from workplaces, the main publicans' association said on Tuesday.
Donall O'Keeffe, chief executive of the Licensed Vintners Association that represents about 700 pubs in the capital, said business has slipped between 12% and 15% since the ban in Ireland's traditionally smoky pubs began March 29.
"We expected April to be very bad and things to improve, but that hasn't happened and is of great concern to us," O'Keeffe said. "While the impact is not totally uniform across Dublin pubs, make no mistake about it, the smoking ban is having a serious financial impact."
But Aiden McManus, speaking for the Restaurant Association of Ireland, said the anti-smoking crackdown hadn't deterred any diners. "Business has been the same as last year," he said.
Ireland was the first nation to outlaw smoking in enclosed workplaces, modeling its move on similar measures enforced in California and New York City as well as more than a dozen other US states and cities. Norway began enforcing similar restrictions on Tuesday.
The smoking law has been widely observed in Ireland, partly because of signs warning that offenders risk receiving a hefty fine. On Monday, Ireland's Office of Tobacco Control reported 97% compliance within workplaces.
- AP
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