MICHAEL DURKAN,
Madam, - Frank Fell (February 7th) has given an unintentional boost to the campaign to ban smoking in pubs.
He cites the example of British Columbia where a ban on smoking in the hospitality industry led to an 11 per cent fall in liquor sales and a 13 per cent fall in draught beer sales. This may be of concern to members of the Licensed Vintners Association but it must surely be music to the ears of many others who have to cope with the effects of our drink culture.
If a measure targeting smoking in pubs also reduced alcohol consumption, I have no doubt that many gardaí as well as staff in casualty units would breath a sigh of relief, to mention but a few. - Yours, etc.,
MICHAEL DURKAN, Dublin Road, Lusk, Co Dublin.
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Madam, - Gene Anderson (February 13th) takes me to task for citing verifiable facts about smoking in pubs.
If he is losing all that much business and incurring such heavy costs for allowing smoking to take place on his licensed premises, why had he not chosen to operate a smoke-free pub? Surely basic economics would dictate this course of action. - Yours, etc.,
FRANK FELL, Chief Executive, Licensed Vintners Association, Anglesea Road, Dublin 4.