Will the smokefree legislation lead to a drop in business for the hospitality trade?
Evidence from around the UK suggests that many pubs can look forward to increased business. Mitchells & Butlers, the pub group that owns the All Bar One and O’Neill’s chains, reported in September 2006 that food sales, which make up 28% of their sales mix, were up by 11% as a result of the introduction of smokefree legislation in Scottish pubs similarly the pub chain Wetherspoons reported that overall sales in August, September and October 2006 were up 9.2% on the previous year, but rose 11.8% in their 101 non-smoking outlets.
