A new survey has reportedly found that one-fifth of Irish drinkers are choosing to drink at home more frequently since the introduction of the workplace smoking ban.
Reports this morning said 21% of respondents to the Retail Intelligence survey had indicated that they were drinking more at home since the ban was put in place just over a year ago.
The study also found that those who do choose to visit the pub are spending less money and less time there than they did before smoking was outlawed in all indoor workplaces.
The findings would appear to back claims by publicans that the smoking ban has led to a significant fall in business.
The Vintners Federation of Ireland told an Oireachtas committee yesterday that 7,600 jobs had been lost in the hospitality industry since the ban’s introduction, while 200 pubs had also closed down.