Let's take it outside

Scotland has become the first part of the United Kingdom to wage war on smoking in pubs. James Wilmore reports from the frontline.

"I've been smoking since I was 12 and I'm 68 now, so I don't see what all the fuss is about health," says Frank Glancy, a regular at the Auld Toll in Tollcross, Edinburgh.

Frank has been drinking and smoking at the pub for as long as he can remember. But, like millions of other smokers across Scotland, he is now having to break the habit of a lifetime and step outside his local for a puff.

It's day two of Scotland's smoking ban - the dawn of a new era - and I'm in the capital to see how pubs and their customers are adapting to the new law.

Wandering around the rain-soaked city, the number of prominent no-smoking signs in the doorways of pubs is already noticeable. The message is clear: we will comply with the ban, even if we are against it.

But there are still worries hanging over licensees. Some are concerned it will affect trade, others have questions over enforcement, while some are worried about the odours that will emerge in the absence of cigarettes.

Hitting where it hurts​

So how concerned should publicans be about the effect it will have on their turnover? Figures from Ireland - which introduced a ban two years ago - showed that bar sales fell by 7.3 per cent seven months after the legislation came in, and many in Scotland fear this pattern could repeat itself.

Research commissioned by the Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) prior to the ban revealed 142 pubs would close and job losses in the industry would hit the 2,300 mark. A chilling verdict.

But are these figures seen as reliable by the trade?

"Yes, those statistics are realistic to me," says Patrick Browne, the SBPA's chief executive. "Here there are a lot of marginal businesses that will find it hard and be tipped over the edge. People will just walk away from the trade."

However, whereas in Ireland many rural pubs have been affected, this may not be the case in Scotland, Patrick explains. "In rural areas here, people really value the community services pubs provide and the customers are loyal - so they should be OK. But it's the wet-led landlocked pubs around towns which will be worst affected."

Working under pressure​

Another area of concern is the pressure barstaff will face to enforce the ban. "I think it's a real issue," says Patrick. "One of the ironies is the fact that the Scottish Executive said it wasn't reasonable to expect environmental health officers to risk physical confrontation with customers. But that implies it is OK for licensees and staff to be asked to do that."

This anxiety is echoed by Dave Russell, licensee of the Saltire, on Rose Street, but he does not see it as a long-term issue.

"The first few weeks there might be incidents, especially at the weekends, in the toilets," he says. "But people will eventually get used to the ban and it will just be accepted that you don't smoke in pubs."

And this acceptance has clearly started to permeate to even the hardest smoking pubs. Back at the Auld Toll, where the majority of customers are smokers, manager Margaret Simpson has so far seen them complying. "There's a lot of people in this pub who smoke and are against the ban," she says. "But so far we haven't had any trouble and my regulars have been going out to the beer garden for a cigarette," she says.

For some it clearly might not be much of a problem - and indeed could be a positive thing.

At the Auld Hundred, licensee Karen Rafferty is anticipating the ban will boost her food sales. "We already have a non-smoking restaurant, so with the whole place becoming smoke-free, it could bring more people in," she says.

Facing up to the problems​

The only time she really predicts problems is with tourists. "We do get a lot of English people coming here for the weekend, but they won't be used to a ban and might try to spark up," adds Karen.

But for some, there are still serious concerns about how it will affect their trade.

Mary Moriarty, licensee at the Port O'Leith, in Leith, is already predicting she will have to make cutbacks. "I definitely think it will affect my business," she says. "We might have to lose staff and work longer hours ourselves."

But on the whole licensees seem prepared to cope with the ban as best they can. And smokers appear ready to abide by the rules.

As the rain clears, I notice a few beginning to huddle around in doorways.

Some, it appears, are enjoying the novelty of having to step outside for a fag and the camaraderie that is generated. But these are early days and while people are complying now, licensees undoubtedly face tough times ahead in enforcing the ban and retaining their customers.

And with a ban in England still due for next summer, all eyes will be focused on how the trade north of the border fares.

Pictured: Smokers seek sanctuary at the rear of the Auld Toll in Edinburgh.​

Fear over passing trade​

Dave Russell, licensee at the Saltire, in the centre of Edinburgh, is not convinced the ban will affect his regular business, but is more worried his passing trade could drop. He explains: "Instead of people coming in and having a few beers, they might just stay and have one and move on to another pub so they can smoke a cigarette in between." Dave is also worried about the rather unpleasant smells that may emerge in the absence of smoke. "Well, we've thought about that," he says. "And we're thinking of burning incense in the morning to hopefully take them away."

The word on the street​

Velda Edmondson, 33, non-smoker:​ "Obviously it's good for non-smokers, but for smokers it makes them feel like outsiders and unwelcome. People will definitely flout the ban. It's good for the nation's health, but not good for people who are being marginalised."

Frank Glancy, 68, smoker:​ "It's a stupid idea and it's not going to affect the amount of cigarettes I smoke."

Robin Topping, 56, non-smoker:​ "A few people will flout the ban when they are drunk but eventually people will come round."

Kate O'Hara, 23, non-smoker:​ "It's a good thing and I think people will eventually accept the ban - although it will be anti-social for smokers having to go outside."