Smoking Ban Affects Pub Drinking and Eating

The smoking ban in Scotland, which came into effect five months ago, has already had a 'major impact' on liquor sales through pubs in Scotland compared to the rest of the country, according to ACNielsen PubTrack. Food sales, however, have risen.

The ban in Scotland took effect on March 26th and has cost publicans an average of 3 fewer servings per week, says Nielsen, while England's buoyant pub food and drink market has seen an increase of an average of 54 servings per week for the same period. 'Since the smoking ban, liquor sales in Scottish pubs have been lagging well behind their English and Welsh counterparts at 2.9% versus 6.5% respectively' says Eleni Nicholas, MD of ACNielsen UK & Ireland. While Nicholas puts most of the English increase down to the World Cup, she adds: 'Scotland's slowdown in growth is driven by less soft drinks and alcohol, especially spirits, being purchased, presumably due to the fact that smokers are spending less time in pubs since the smoking ban took effect.'

Meanwhile pub meals are on the rise in Scotland. An average Scottish pub is now serving 91 (13%) more main meals a week than before the ban, according to Nicholas, with positive and profitable effects on the pub environment. 'Families and non smokers are far more willing to spend more time and money in pubs over leisurely meals, without the fear of inhaling other people's smoke. Pubs who currently don't serve food should really think hard about doing so in future.'

According to Nielsen's Homescan survey of 10,000 households, 56% of people are more likely to visit a pub if it is non-smoking and only 15% of people are less likely to visit – good news for the pubs of England and Wales for whom a similar ban is imminent.

PubTrack measures census EPoS data covering the multiple managed pub sector. The above purchasing data covers the 18 weeks through to week ending 29th July '06. ACNielsen's UK site is at www.acnielsen.co.uk .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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