Seven millions people will go the pub when the smoking ban is introduced, says a new survey by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA).
In its survey of 1500 consumers it found that 6.2 million people (17 per cent of all adults in England and Wales) who visit pubs regularly are likely to visit pubs more often. Of that group 97 per cent were non-smokers.
Other findings of the report:
- 840,000 people who currently never go to a pub said they will after the smoking ban
- 93 per cent of real ale drinkers said they would be more likely to visit pubs more often or that their visiting habits would not be changed by the ban
- 68 per cent of regular smokers say it will not change their pub visiting habits at all
- Six per cent of all adults said it would not affect their visits to pubs at all and only three per cent said they would not visit pubs at all as a result of the ban
CAMRA chief executive Mike Benner said: "This survey shows that non-smokers will be attracted to pubs after the ban comes into force, and many of them would like to find a real ale waiting for them when they get there.
"The smoking ban will be a difficult transition for licensees, but it is encouraging that only three per cent of people surveyed by CAMRA said they would not visit pubs at all as a result of the ban. The key will be to ensure that other factors such as quality of real ale, food, atmosphere and welcome are all superb.
"If this is the case then the traditional Community Pub will have a bright and healthy future."
The survey was carried out by CAMRA to mark Community Pubs Week which began on Saturday February 17th and will run until Saturday February 24th and was conducted by TNS.
TABLE 1: Percentage of people who said they would be more likely to visit a pub or that their number of pub visits would not be affected by the ban
Real ale drinkers: 93%
Keg bitter drinkers: 90%
Wine drinkers: 90%
Soft Drink drinkers:88%
Spirit drinkers: 86%
Lager drinkers: 84%
Alcopop drinkers: 81%
TABLE 2: Percentage of people who smoke
Lager drinkers: 43%
Alcopop drinkers: 42%
Spirit drinkers: 37%
Keg bitter drinkers: 35%
Real ale drinkers: 25%
Soft drink drinkers: 24%
Wine drinkers: 20%