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Less Grog - More Grub!
Smoking ban affects liquor sales in Scottish pubs - but pub restaurants record healthy increases!
The smoking ban in Scotland, which came into effect five months ago, has already had a major impact on liquor sales through pubs* in Scotland compared to the rest of the country according to ACNielsen.
“Since the smoking ban took effect on March 26th, liquor sales in Scottish pubs have been lagging well behind their English and Welsh counterparts at 2.9% versus 6.5% respectively”., said Eleni Nicholas, MD of ACNielsen UK & Ireland. (ACNielsen PubTrack* 18 weeks through to week ending 29.07.06). The smoking ban in Scotland has cost publicans an average of 3 fewer servings per week, compared to England’s buoyant pub food and drink sales which increased by an average of 54 servings per week for the same period
“Compared to Scotland and Wales, English pubs enjoyed a healthy rise in liquor sales during the summer months largely due to the World Cup. Scotland’s slowdown in growth is driven by less soft drinks and alcohol, especially spirits, being purchased, presumably due to the fact that smokers are spending less time in pubs since the smoking ban took effect. ”
However, it’s not all bad news for Scottish pubs. While liquor sales have fallen, pub meals are on the rise, according to latest Food Sales data.
“Since the ban was introduced, servings of main meals in pubs has risen by +13%, out-performing England and Wales. An average Scottish pub* is now serving 91 more main meals a week than before the ban” said Ms Nicholas. The effect of the smoking ban is changing the social and cultural context of the ‘pub’ – and there is a positive, and profitable upside for publicans. “Families and non smokers are far more willing to spend more time and money in pubs over leisurely meals, without the fear of inhaling other peoples smoke. Pubs who currently don’t serve food should really think hard about doing so in future,” Ms. Nicholas added.
With the smoking ban drawing near for pubs in England and Wales, the encouraging news for pubs is that 56% of people are more likely to visit a pub if it is non smoking and only 15% of people are less likely to visit, according to a recent survey by ACNielsen. (Homescan survey of 10,000 households in Great Britain)
PubTrack measures census EPoS data covering the multiple managed pub sector.
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