Smoking ban, I have no intention of putting out CO2 emitting heaters, from a business point of view, I would prefer the atmosphere to stay in the bar and not spill out onto the streets. I also have the added problem of late night services and trying to keep noise levels down. I prefer to keep customers in the bar drinking then outside comfortably smoking. We limit the numbers in the early hours outside the bar. I hear this is common practice in clubs such as Fabric where you have to queue an hour just to go out to smoke as numbers are limited outside. So to get a quick turn around we cannot let them be too comfortable. Sorry smokers ...it's because you let ASH bully this legislation through that publicans are having to face all kinds of problems.
As a non smoker, I think there could have been a compromise too. I hate it when on the few occassions I go out with my smoking partner, that I am abandoned only to be approached by strangers while he is having his fix. A 10pm lifting of the ban would be a good compromise, diners are protected, non smoking staff can end their shifts if they choose and adults can enjoy a bit of atmosphere. Of course if the government were really serious, cigarettes should go up to ?10 a packet a become a true luxury product, many people will dramatically cut down and those who are real die hards, well at least they are funding their future healthcare. In terms of early evening business our chain smoking couples now just go home to smoke in front of the kids with their cheap booze from Sainsburys but don't get me started on that...I think there will be no mixed drinks after 9pm next. Mind you, I think a lot of money was made in Prohibition...