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Smoking Ban Good For Business

Tuesday 18 October 2005

The NI Chest Heart & Stroke Association has pointed out inconsistencies in the information emanating from the licensed vintners in both Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland. All sorts of doom has been forecast in relation to sales in the industry. However, Andrew Dougal stated that “Hard figures showed that there has been no adverse economic effect from the introduction of smoke-free work environments in the Republic of Ireland. Bar retail sales in volume terms have increased during the last 3-month period compared to the previous year. This is after a decline which has lasted for 4 years. This decline set in well before any smoke-free work environments were required by legislation.”

The NI Chest Heart & Stroke Association has pointed out inconsistencies in the information emanating from the licensed vintners in both Northern Ireland and in the Republic of Ireland. All sorts of doom has been forecast in relation to sales in the industry. However, Andrew Dougal stated that “Hard figures showed that there has been no adverse economic effect from the introduction of smoke-free work environments in the Republic of Ireland. Bar retail sales in volume terms have increased during the last 3-month period compared to the previous year. This is after a decline which has lasted for 4 years. This decline set in well before any smoke-free work environments were required by legislation.”

In fact the numbers employed in the hospitality sector in the first quarter of this year have increased to 23,200. This is a jump of 1,400 extra jobs from the previous quarter.

This represents a very significant quarterly increase in employment in the industry. This should put to flight all the forecasts of doom which the representatives of the publicans have been portraying in the press.

Mr Dougal, Chief Executive of NICHSA said that there should be scientific independent peer review of all the information which has been made public in this debate. It is essential that the public is assured that information which has been promulgated has been subject to robust analysis to ensure its accuracy.

Mr Dougal was speaking as the Health Minister announced his decision on smoke-free work environments and smoke-free public places for Northern Ireland. He insisted that it was essential that voluntary and health organisations worked alongside the hospitality industry to implement any changes in a most expeditious and efficient manner.

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