How will ban affect pubs?

Drinking and smoking often go hand in hand so the effect on pubs could be significant.

But a recent survey conducted by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) found that England's 6.2 million regular pub-goers were planning to go out drinking more once the ban was introduced.

Of the regular smokers who took part, 68 per cent claimed the new laws would not change their pub visiting habits and only 3 per cent said they would make them not go to the pub at all.

A further 840,000 people who currently never go to a pub planned to do so after smoking was banned.

But market researchers Nielsen estimate that beer sales at pubs, bars and clubs in England and Wales could drop by 200 million pints per year.

The volume of all drinks sold by licensed premises in Scotland is down 5 per cent year-on-year following the ban north of the border, with beer taking the biggest hit of around 36 million pints.

The British Beer and Pub Association said the figures matched its expectations.

Communications director Mark Hastings said: "It will lead to a small decline in beer sales in pubs - that is the clear evidence from Ireland, Scotland and other countries that have smoking bans.

"At the same time, the result for the pub sector overall is a marginal increase in overall sales because it leads to a significant increase in sales of food in pubs."

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