Pubs' claim over tobacco ban 'smoke without fire'

THERE is no evidence that the smoking ban in Scotland has led to the closure of pubs, a city-based organisation has said.

ASH Scotland refuted claims from the Save Our Pubs and Clubs campaign, which argued that the 2005 change had sounded a death knell for bars across the Lothians and the rest of the country.

ASH's chief executive Sheila Duffy said there was no proof to back this up, and a number of other factors were, in fact, to blame.

"There is absolutely no evidence that the smoking ban is responsible for an increase in the closure of pubs in Scotland," she said. "But there is plenty evidence that Scotland is a healthier nation for having introduced smoke-free public places.

"What is clear is that there are a number of various factors affecting pubs. These include changing social habits, raw materials and energy prices increasing while beer sales are declining, alongside a disparity between VAT and duty that is paid in pubs, which is higher than in the retail sector.

"This research issued by a pro-smoking, tobacco industry funded group ignores all these more pressing factors."

Hundreds of pubs across Scotland have shut since the legislation was introduced.

And while the ban was broadly welcomed, even by smokers themselves, the pub and restaurant industry said that it sparked a direct drop in custom, with many people now preferring to stay at home and purchase their alcohol from supermarkets or off-licences.