Ireland strife?

The UK will be watching the effects of the fledgling smoking ban in Ireland very closely. Tom Sandham visited Dublin to see how the capital's pubs and drinkers are coping.

His eyes were hardly smiling, he was barely enjoying the craic and things were far from grand for Tony McGuinness as he sat in the Auld Dubliner. He was supposed to be partaking in his lunchtime ritual of a pint and a cigarette but as of March 29 he has had to step outside his Temple Bar local for a drag, and he is far from happy.

"I never really believed this would happen," said Tony. "European governments talk of equal rights yet they discriminate against smokers. There are the people who say this will help them quit, but I don't want to quit, I enjoy smoking. I'm shocked it has come in and it'll mean I spend more time at home with a can of beer."

I had expected to meet many like Tony when I arrived in Dublin as the smoking ban kicked in but, to my surprise, his voice proved to be a lone one in a tide of approval.

The smoking ban came into effect on March 29 in the Republic of Ireland and during the first week the industry faced its first real test as Ireland competed in a football international at Lansdowne Road. By 10pm the streets were packed with thousands of revellers on their way for a drink to celebrate a win and, as expected, smokers began to gather outside the pubs.

But what became immediately clear was that most people were actually going into the pubs and were staying put. As well as a ban on smoking inside, there's a ban on drinking outside a lot of venues in Temple Bar and it seemed the choice between a beer or a fag was an easy one.

Smoker Heidi Cooke had lit up outside the Oliver St.John Gogartys in Temple Bar and despite standing in the rain was welcoming the ban with open arms. "It's a great idea and will hopefully encourage me to quit," she said. "Most smokers agree it's a bad habit and it damages your health so how can you argue with it?"

Tom O'Malley, a taxi driver, has also embraced the ban.

"My wife hadn't been into a pub for 10 years because she hated the smoke," he said. "This week she came with me for a drink and while I was shocked at how much I was paying for a Martini it proved the ban can encourage trade."

Bren Berry works in a music venue in the city where a ban has been in place for two months already and so far the reaction has been positive. "I smoke but I'll still come to the pub for a drink," he said. "I haven't seen it affect trade where I work and I don't see it as unreasonable to expect us smokers to respect the health of those who don't."

Of course, the customers have the choice of where to go and if they do eventually get fed up with the ban they will find other ways to enjoy a drink and a cigarette at the same time.

It is not so easy for those who own the pubs and potentially face a drop in trade. But when I visited licensees during the first week of the ban I did not find the response I was expecting, in fact there was an overwhelming air of acceptance.

Kevin Fitzsimons owns the Temple Bar in Temple Bar and the Botanic House outside the city in Glasnevin, and is prepared for the changes.

"We installed heaters and parasols at the Botanic a couple of months ago and we've had a fantastic response," said Kevin. "It's more likely that the trade will be hit there than in Temple Bar but wherever it is we simply have to meet the needs of our customers.

"I've had at least five other pub owners come to me with enquiries about what I've done. This ban is in and will definitely work, licensees in Dublin have accepted it and are working together. All we have to do is remind customers that we didn't enforce the law, we just have to abide by it."

Philip Shaffrey, who owns the Stags Head in Dane Court, agreed: "When I first heard about it I was horrified, the government is trying to change a way of life overnight and I didn't think they'd see it through. But it's here now and we're dealing with it. Our customers have been brilliant at this early stage so we haven't had a problem."

There are still concerns of course and while licensees have accepted the law some are convinced they will feel the pinch, if not now then at least in the coming months.

John Donohoe, who owns the International Bar in Wicklow Street, is one licensee who is sure the ban will damage his trade. "Of course it will," he said. "I rely on lunchtime drinkers who come in here for a break from work. They want to have a smoke and don't expect to go outside for it. We looked at putting tables and chairs outside but have been told we don't have the room."

Where to smoke is perhaps the biggest bone of contention right now, with the law stating there is no obligation for employers to provide an outdoor smoking area.

Those who do smoke will naturally use the pubs with seating areas, gardens or shelters, something Frank O'Connell, who owns MacTurcaills of Hoggen Green on Tara Street, has recognised.

"We don't have a garden so if we have a good summer I expect it to affect the trade," he said. "My other complaint would be that it has been brought in too quickly and too severely, we would have benefited from a gradual introduction. But so far everyone is obeying the law, our customers are very nice people so I don't see it being a problem."

Frank's son Eugene works in the pub and is asthmatic so he at least acknowledges the health benefits for his staff, and as the Minister of Health drinks in Frank's pub he has little room to manoeuvre.

There are other expected gripes and on Thursday fag butts on the streets were an early morning eyesore, but according to Dubliners it was no worse than usual. Ashtrays attached to the side of the bars are being used and the vast majority of smokers respect their city.

Of course, there is still a smoking etiquette to establish. "People aren't yet sure how it will all work," said Kevin Fitzsimons. "Customers certainly don't like leaving their drinks alone and by stepping outside they miss out on conversation. That said, most of the chat that goes on after a couple of pints is worth stepping away from anyway."

At what is a very early stage in the ban there is acceptance but obviously still caution and while licensees have given up fighting they will be watching revenues like hawks in the coming months.

Colclough Doran, owner of the Old Stand in Exchequer Street, said: "There are tests to come and we'll have to keep costs down while we wait to see the full impact of the ban. If we don't we could find ourselves in trouble.

"But we have to get used to this, the law has changed and there is no way it'll be rolled back."

How the Irish ban works​

The smoking ban was enforced in most Irish workplaces on March 29 and states:

• A person who smokes in a pub is guilty of an offence
• Where a person smokes the occupier or person in charge is also responsible
• Individuals caught smoking should be asked to stop and if they refuse service will stop
• Police are called if the individual refuses to stop or leave
• A person found guilty of an offence can be fined €3,000
• Publicans will not be fined if they make a reasonable effort to enforce the ban.