Pubs are clinging on by a thread
30 August 2024
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Lifestyle Economics
Economic Theory
Markets and Morality
Reem Ibrahim writes for The Express
IEA Acting Director of Communications Reem Ibrahim has reacted to the Government’s proposed outdoor smoking ban in the Daily Express.
Reem wrote:
“The 2006 indoor smoking ban helped contribute to the vast number of pub closures across the country. Smoking is much more common among pub-goers than the rest of the population, so when the indoor smoking ban was introduced, pub attendance among smokers declined significantly. Before the ban, 54 percent of pub customers were smokers, but this dropped to 38 percent after the ban. There was also a net reduction of 74 percent in smokers’ visits to pubs.
“Despite these hurdles, pubs have created various imaginative ways for customers to smoke. Money has been spent on smoking shelters and doing up pub gardens. Alas, the Government just has to be a fun sponge. Pubs are already on their knees. A ban on smoking outside would inevitably force many to go under.
“In 2022, 12.9 percent of adults smoked cigarettes, which is the lowest proportion since records began. The rise of vapes, snus, heated tobacco and other reduced harm nicotine products have played a crucial role in the decline of smoking rates, and will continue to do so if the Government lets them.”
You can read Reem’s full piece here.
Reem was also quoted in the Mirror, Sky News, iNews, The Independent, ITV News, CityAM, The Sun, the Express, the Standard, the Daily Mail, the Telegraph, This Is Money, The Daily Mail, the Daily Mail, the Morning Star, Radio News Hub, and the Guardian.
Reem wrote:
“The 2006 indoor smoking ban helped contribute to the vast number of pub closures across the country. Smoking is much more common among pub-goers than the rest of the population, so when the indoor smoking ban was introduced, pub attendance among smokers declined significantly. Before the ban, 54 percent of pub customers were smokers, but this dropped to 38 percent after the ban. There was also a net reduction of 74 percent in smokers’ visits to pubs.
“Despite these hurdles, pubs have created various imaginative ways for customers to smoke. Money has been spent on smoking shelters and doing up pub gardens. Alas, the Government just has to be a fun sponge. Pubs are already on their knees. A ban on smoking outside would inevitably force many to go under.
“In 2022, 12.9 percent of adults smoked cigarettes, which is the lowest proportion since records began. The rise of vapes, snus, heated tobacco and other reduced harm nicotine products have played a crucial role in the decline of smoking rates, and will continue to do so if the Government lets them.”
You can read Reem’s full piece here.
Reem was also quoted in the Mirror, Sky News, iNews, The Independent, ITV News, CityAM, The Sun, the Express, the Standard, the Daily Mail, the Telegraph, This Is Money, The Daily Mail, the Daily Mail, the Morning Star, Radio News Hub, and the Guardian.
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