The West Midlands and Scotland have been hit hardest in the national pub blight that sees six pubs close per day.

that’s a key finding of CGA’s survey of recent closure rates nationally.

The figures are broken down by Parliamentary constituency as part of the campaigns by the British Beer & Pub Association, the Campaign for Real Ale and the All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group to show politicians the scale of the closure crisis.

It compares pub numbers in February 2009 with figures from June 2007, just before the English smoking ban, and data from the last general election in 2005.

More than half of constituencies with fastest closure rates since 2007 are in the West Midlands and Scotland. Dudley South lost the greatest proportion of pub stock — 28% (29 pubs).

Big job losses in the West Midlands, and the fact that many of the pubs are smaller and landlocked, have been given as reasons for closures in that region.

The early smoking ban and fears of costly licensing reform have been blamed for above-average closure rates north of the border.

Other reasons given for closures have been a move towards change-of-use, over-regulation and rent levels.

The Cities of London & Westminster has seen the biggest number of closures since June 2007, 30 from a pub stock of 949.

Manchester Central has seen the biggest fall in numbers since the 2005 election, with 50 fewer pubs.

Overall, the study shows there were 61,677 pubs in England, Scotland and Wales in February 2009, down 3,037 in 20 months and 4,271 fewer than in June 2005.

The owners of a café in the northern city of Groningen will appear in court today on charges of violating the recently introduced smoking ban for the catering industry. The owners of Café De Kachel were caught six times allowing their patrons to smoke.

They argue their turnover went down by 60 percent after the introduction of the ban and say they had no choice but to put the ashtrays back on the tables. The owners are facing a maximum fine of 18,500 euros, and the judge can order the café temporarily closed.

Many of Groningen’s publicans are expected to attend the trial to offer the owners of De Kachel moral support.

Source: Radion Netherlands.  Link

The province’s take from VLTs continues to slide, with gaming officials and bar owners saying smoking bans could be a factor.

And the province has made allowances for bars hosting VLTs whose machine revenues might be undermined by butting-out laws.

Revenue from VLTs in 2008-09 are forecast to fall $60 million from the province’s prediction earlier this year to $619 million.

That’s down from $703 million in 2007-08 and $735 million the year before that.

Machines are located in bars and lounges, which were forced to adhere to earlier smoking prohibitions in Calgary and Edmonton and a blanket provincial ban a year ago. It’s hard to explain the trend, said Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission spokeswoman Lynn Hutchings-Mah, adding a butt ban could be a factor.

“If you have a smoking ban or a cold snap, that could drive business down,” she said.

Calgary’s two-year-old smoking ban has cut VLT use, said Sherry Morrison, owner of Shuckaluck’s Public Ale House, 11440 Braeside Dr. S.W., adding the take from her machines has fallen 15% to 20%.

Source: Calgary Sun.  Link

ISTANBUL (not Constantinople) – Despite Turkey having passed a law in May that created a partially smoke-free environment, the implementation of the smoking ban has been claimed as one of the victims of the global financial crisis as restaurant owners choose to ignore it and hang on to their customers.

However, restaurants and cafes in shopping malls that do not want to lose smokers as customers are ignoring the ban.

The same applies to the Olivium mall in the Zeytinburnu district where some restaurants are ignoring the ban due to the decrease in customers. The proprietor of a restaurant where smoking is permitted in Olivium said, “[The ban] reduced business by 90 percent. We had 11 employees here, now we have five, it is a shame…

Source: Hurriyet Daily News.  Link

The plight of Ms. Guérin is being replicated all over France, as traditional cafes and bars suffer and even close, hit by changing attitudes, habits and now a poor economic climate. In 1960, France had 200,000 cafes, said Bernard Quartier, president of the National Federation of Cafes, Brasseries and Discotheques. Now it has fewer than 41,500, with an average of two closing every day.

The number of bankruptcies filed by cafe bars in the first six months of 2008 rose by 56 percent over the same period a year ago, according to a study by Euler Hermes SFAC, a large credit insurance company. No reliable figures are available for the latter part of this year, when an economic slowdown here has been accelerated by the general financial crisis, a collapse in consumer confidence and the quick tightening of credit.

Not only are the French spending less, and drinking less, cutting down on the intensity and quality of the debates, but on Jan. 1 of this year, after much huffing and puffing, France extended its smoking ban to bars, cafes and restaurants.

Marco Mayeux, 42, the bartender of Le Relais, a Paris cafe in the 18th Arrondissement, said the ban alone had cut his coffee and bar business by 20 percent.

“A place like mine doesn’t appeal to everyone; it’s very working-stiff,” he said. “There is a coffee-at-the-counter feel that isn’t attractive anymore.”

Before, clients would go inside a cafe, have a coffee, a cigarette and another coffee. But now they go out to smoke, and sometimes they do not come back, many cafe owners said.

In Paris, Mr. Picolet, of Aux Amis du Beaujolais, said simply: “The bar-cafes? They’re finished. Twenty years ago, people would go in the morning before work for a coffee and a cigarette. And now, it’s over. Young people don’t drink during the day, and when they drink, they drink to get wasted. Smoking is forbidden and they eat en route, with coffee in a paper cup. They smoke and drink at home.”

Source: The New York Times.  Link

AMES, Iowa — People in Ames said the statewide smoking ban that is forcing smokers outside is creating a mess of cigarette butts on streets and sidewalks.

“When we were allowed to smoke in the taverns, we had ashtrays and they were regularly cleaned out and taken care of,” said Reynolds. “People didn’t have to toss their butts out here on the street.”

Source: KCCI.  Link

THE HAGUE (AFP) — Dutch cafe owners on Saturday took to the streets of The Hague in protest at a smoking ban they say has seen business drop by up to a third.

The cafe owners want the ban, which came into force on July 1, scrapped arguing they have neither the space nor the money to build specially-ventilated smoking areas.

Source: AFP. Link

CAMPAIGNERS fighting for the future of the Great British pub are today attempting to alter the controversial smoking ban.

Even the government accepts the legislation has had a huge impact on trade and is allowing bars to claim business rate reductions.

The ban is often cited as one of the prime factors killing pubs – and now a campaign has been launched in Suffolk to try to amend the law.

Jim Adams is behind the bid and is urging regulars at pubs all over the country to sign a petition.

“The smoking ban should be replaced with a rule that would require all public houses to have a room set aside for smokers instead of the really stupid overall ban,” said Mr Adams, who runs Jim and Donna’s Barbers in Hamilton Road, Felixstowe.

“The ban is killing the pub trade and removing from the English way of life one of the most sought after features for tourists coming here. There is no justifiable reason to stop those who wish to smoke from so doing.

“If there is another part of the pub which is a smoking area then the folk who wish to smoke may so do, and those who want a smoke-free area may have the rest of the establishment – including the food area – to themselves.”

The Evening Star is highlighting the loss of pubs in the area – more than 100 have closed in living memory – and the threat many are now facing to their future.

Kate Nicholls, head of communications at the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR), which represents pubs and bars, said: “Last summer’s bad weather and the smoking ban were to blame for a number of closures.

“People are not going to want to stand outside and smoke when the weather is unpleasant and with extremely cheap supermarket drink deals available. It just gives people a reason to stay home.”

Source: Evening Star.  Link

Minnesota smoking bans for instance were the catalyst for closing an unprecedented 200+ bars, restaurants, and bingo halls.

Nationwide and around the world the loss of businesses and jobs after smoking bans are implemented is staggering. Even though air quality testing by organizations like the American Cancer Society, Johns Hopkins, a Minnesota Environmental Health Department, British Medical Journal published contributors prove that secondhand smoke levels are 15 – 25,000 times SAFER than OSHA permissible exposure limits (PEL).

Meanwhile Nicoderm manufacturer Johnson & Johnson Company, whose private foundation RWJF funds the smoking ban movement, saw 40% 1st quarter 2008 revenue growth over their previous year.

Currently, smoking cessation product sales just in the U.S. accounts for $500 million, but thanks to rent seeking smoking ban legislation; industry insiders expect those sales to climb to $4.6 billion annually by 2016.

Source: Casino Gambeling Web.  Link.

JOHNSTON, Iowa — After a decade in business, the Nest Bar and Grill in Johnston is empty.

The owner, Rich Marx, said the smoking ban drove him out of business.

“We just celebrated our 10 year anniversary last Wednesday and then shut the doors three days later,” Marx said.

“Since the smoking ban went into effect July 1, we’ve lost just over 40 percent of our business,” he said.

Source: KCCI.  Link.

GULFPORT, MS (WLOX) – Eight months ago, Ricky Dombrowski supported Gulfport’s smoking ban. But after watching almost 30% of his profits go up in smoke, he’s had a change of heart. Dombrowski is now pushing for a modification to the smoking ban, before it snuffs out his restaurant.

Dombrowski has received two calls from Gulfport police, warning him that smoking inside Skeeters is illegal. But if he obeys the law, he says his Gulfport business could close.

In the first three months after smoking was banned, his restaurant revenues dropped more than 30%. So, in August, he started to look the other way when people wanted to smoke. By October, he put out ashtrays.

Source: WLOX-TV.  Link.

Carpenter works part time at the Legion. He said the smoking ban has driven away business. Pull tab receipts are down and people who used to be regular customers don’t come around as often and they don’t stay as long. Carpenter said veterans especially, should have a right to smoke in their own club.

“They’ve served their country, and a lot of them are older veterans,” Carpenter said. “They’re not going to stand outside in 35 below zero weather and smoke. I mean, they’ll sit at home and smoke.”

The Bemidji American Legion has been smoke free longer than most bars in the state. That’s because Beltrami County passed a smoking ban ordinance a full two years before the state did. Club manager Bill Rice said the ban is largely to blame for cutting the club’s business in half.

“We were doing two and a half million in business in gross sales a year,” Rice said. “We’re down to a little over a million this year.”

Rice has had to cut three jobs at the Legion since the smoking ban took effect.

Minnesota Licensed Beverage Association interim director Tony Chesak said it’s clear to him the ban is causing bars across the state to fail.

I’d say, realistically, 200 to 300 licensed establishments, at least, have closed,” Chesak said. “I would think that would be a conservative number.”

Membership in the association dropped about 25 percent this year. Chesak said the promise of non-smokers frequenting bars more often because of the smoke free law hasn’t panned out.

“All the anti-smoking folks had said, you know, you get smoking out of your facilities and we’ll come in droves,” said Chesak. “Well, those droves didn’t come out.” {They never do.}

A poll conducted in September shows Minnesotans support the statewide smoke-free law by an overwhelming 77 percent. Gordon said national studies have found that smoking bans don’t hurt businesses in states that have bans in place. {That’s only true of studies conducted by nicotine nannies or the governments that passed the law. The few studies funded by tavern associations show the real, devastating effects.}

Source: Minnesota Public Radio. Link.

The worst year in history for Colorado casinos claimed its first victim Friday, when the Wild Horse Casino in Cripple Creek closed its doors, putting 62 employees out of work.

Revenues for casinos in Cripple Creek, along with Colorado’s other gaming towns, have fallen every month this year. In September, Cripple Creek gaming revenues fell 10.3 percent to $12.8 million compared to the same month in 2007, according to the state Division of Gaming. Statewide, gaming revenue was off 18.7 percent in September and 11.4 percent for the year to date.

Source: Hotel Online. Link.

Many cafes and discos have seen their turnover fall as a result of the smoking ban introduced on July 1, says sector lobby group Horeca Nederland.

Café turnover dropped by an average 26% and discos by 31% in July and August, compared with the previous summer, according to a survey by the sector.

Source: Dutch News.  Link

Three quarters of Dutch cafes and clubs have lost patrons due to a smoking ban which was introduced in July.

The significant drop in business was reported after a study revealed that cafes had seen a 26 percent decline with clubs dropping by 31 percent.

The smoking ban has been blamed for the loss of customers and many establishments say they have had to fire staff.

Earlier this month restaurant owners asked the health ministry to compensate them for losses as a result of the ban.

Source: Brunei News Net.  Link

Kath Duffy, landlady of the Newcastle Packet and president of the Scarborough branch of the Licensed Victuallers’ Association, said: “The council might think the ban is wonderful but we don’t. Pubs have lost a lot of trade, the summer’s not been too bad but the winter when people have to stand out in the cold will really hurt us. We saw a definite drop in trade last winter. People just aren’t coming to pubs like they used to before the ban.”

Laurin Mainprize, landlady of the Britannia, said: “I reckon business is down 40 per cent on last year. Smoking isn’t illegal and people shouldn’t have to stand outside in the cold to smoke. Why can’t we have smoking and non-smoking establishments so people can make up their own minds?

“The local pub’s a dying breed and the ban’s one of the main reasons.”

And customers agree.

Lindsay White, a regular in the Black Swan, said: “My husband’s a smoker and he just won’t come to the pub any more – he says there’s no pleasure if he can’t have a smoke with his pint.”

Source: Scarborough Evening News.  Link

Lost Lanes proprietor Natalie Hanks said her establishment has lost 74 regular bowlers from last season due to the recent state law that forbids smoking in public spaces. Her husband, Harry, estimated they had 250 bowlers in leagues last year.

“I would say 65 percent of the dropoff is related to the no smoking law and the other 35 percent for economy reasons,” said Hanks, who owns the 14-lane bowling alley and Found Lounge restaurant (connected to the bowling alley) with her husband Harry.

“We knew there would be a dropoff, but not this severe.”

“I know of four to six houses in Buffalo that closed due to the no smoking law,” Hanks said. “We’re nervous.”

Source: The Meadville Tribune.  Link

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― On top of the drink tax and the soft economy, the smoking ban has kind of become the coffin nail in the cash register of bars and restaurants.

Although some places are finding a loophole.

“I can tell you right off the bat, three customers that were here in my building three to four days a week no longer stop out of principal they stopped coming all together,” said Marc “Bubba” Snider, owner of Bubba’s Ugly on the North Shore.

While Snider’s neighbors at Firewaters and Mullen’s report little impact on business so far, he says business at Ugly is hurting and he’s hoping his request for an exemption will be approved.

Meanwhile, the folks at Silvoni’s in Ross Township know they won’t qualify for an exemption, but they say they sure could use one.

“For the last two weeks I can definitely say it’s 50 percent off. We’re losing our customers to go up the street, if they do come down here they’ll eat, but then they leave,” said Susie Dragun, of Silvioni’s. “They’re not coming into the bar area to drink and it’s hurting.

But at bars like 222 on Federal Street, and Shenanigans on Babcock Boulevard, which still allow smoking, the ashtrays are busy and business is up.

Source: KDKA.  Link

“The smoking ban is having a major impact,” said Tom Swoik, head of the Illinois Casino Gaming Association. Casinos in Illinois have posted double-digit declines in revenue since the smoking ban took effect in January.

{And here it comes. . . the nannies favorite line. . . The Level Playing Field}

To create a level playing field, the Casino Association of New Jersey, which fought the Atlantic City ban, is now arguing in favor of smoking bans in other states. In an email statement, the association’s president, Joseph Corbo Jr., wrote: “We are hopeful that other nearby gaming jurisdictions, notably Pennsylvania and Connecticut, soon enact smoking bans.”

{So their solution to the ban killing their business is to spread it to their competition.  Brilliant.}

Source: The Wall Street Journal.  Link

KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WSAZ) – No smoking, no business – Kanawha County bar owners said they have the numbers to prove it.

They blame the economic slide on an extended smoking ban, which went into effect on July 1, forbidding smoking in bars and gambling parlors.

“It’s not just an inconvenience,” said Greg White of the Nitro Moose Lodge. “It’s crippling us. …It has actually crippled everything we do.”

White said the extended smoking ban is taking a toll on his bottom line.

But Brenda Isaac, an official with the Kanawha-Charleston Health Department, said smoking in public establishments is harming others’ health.

“It’s never a goal to shut down businesses, but it’s our goal to make businesses safe,” she said. 

{Not their goal, but quite often the result, despite their constant denials of this fact.} 

White estimates that his establishment lost as much as $65,000 in August alone.

“We’re considering all kinds of options right now,” he said. “But when you don’t have the dollars to make the bills …there is very little option left. It’s driving everybody out of business.”

Source: WSAZ.  Link

Jack Tan, Administrative and Finance Manager of Coffeezone has said that from the past week that the smoking ban has been in place, he has noticed that about 30 per cent of his usual customers have stopped coming.

“About 40 per cent of loyal customers are smokers, and that is why we have an outside seating area, but now with the ban, there is no point to have .outside dining at the restaurant,” he said.

Source: BruneiDriect.com. Link

Larry and Patti Wojdyla held a benefit earlier this summer at their 29-year-old Irish pub to try saving it from a slowing economy, high gas prices and the recent statewide smoking ban that they say ate away profits.

The smoking ban, said Larry Wojdyla, was “the last nail in the coffin” for the downtown business at 418 S. Main St.

“I don’t care if other states (banned smoking) or not, it’s killing a lot of businesses,” he said. “The state should have given neighborhood taverns the option to go smoking or nonsmoking. We have several nonsmoking customers who had no problems coming here.”

After the ban went into effect at he start of the year, Wojdyla said profits fell as much as 25 percent, losing up to $6,500 per month. He said patrons were still coming but staying for less time and, therefore, spending less money.

“My place was a working man’s bar, where people want to sit down, chat with friends and have a cigarette,” he said. “Now people are thinking, ‘Should I go in and spend $3 for a bottle of beer or spend $16 for a 30-pack and smoke at home?’”

In addition to Wojdyla and his wife, their two adult children also worked at Flaherty’s. Now the family has filed for bankruptcy and Wojdyla said they are in danger of losing their home.

Source: Daily Herald.  Link

The Dusanji brothers – Sudarghara and Ajmal - blamed the smoking ban for the failure of their Liverpool-based Cains’ Brewery which has an estate of 100 pubs, including several in Greater Manchester.

They took over the Robert Cain & Co brewery in July, 2002, promising to return it to its former glory after years of under-investment.

But Sudarghara, the chief executive, said that since last year pub sales had dropped by between 15 and 20 per cent because of the smoking ban, and added that the credit crunch had also helped to “cripple the business”.

Source: Asian News.  Link

“It has hit them very hard. Some of them are down 70 percent,” says Eau Claire Tavern League President Sally Jo Bitzer.

Bitzer also manages the bar at Wagner’s Lanes on Brackett Avenue.

She says before the smoking ban, the place was packed on a Saturday afternoon. Now, just a few loyal customers are left.

“People just aren’t coming in, and sitting there and socializing and smoking a cigarette,” she says.

Julie Johnson, the owner of the Five O’Clock club down the street says she’s seen much of the same trend since the ban took affect in July. She also says she feels like the city’s taken her rights as a business owner away, by banning smoking. Both Johnson and Bitzer say the ban hasn’t attracted any new customers.

“When they first came out,” Bitzer says, in reference to the ban, “They said, ‘Oh, there’s so many non-smokers out there that don’t come to the taverns because they don’t want to be affected by the secondhand smoke.’ They’re not coming.”

Source: WEAU.  Link

As of July 2007, smoking in enclosed areas of pubs and clubs across NSW has been banned.
 
ClubsNSW, which is the peak body for venues across the state, said clubs suffered their worst financial year ever, with overall club income falling by $385 million in the last financial year.

Figures from Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing estimate a revenue downturn of $26,052,814 in the Parramatta area – a fall of 11.7 per cent.

Source: Parramatta Sun.  Link