Why I Stopped going to pubs
I am a keen live music fan and enjoy going to see bands I've never heard of. As anyone of a similar
disposition will tell you, nine out of 10 times the band will usually be pretty poor but on the one in 10 you
get to see something really special and that's where the buzz comes from for live music fans.
My point is I had already started to cut back because of the silly prices of beer after successive tax rises
but my biggest issue now is the difficulties the smoking ban has brought.
At first it was an inconvenience and I continued to support live music. But as time wore on and the weather
deteriorated it started to become a real pain.
It also became very noticeable that the customers were staying away having an extremely detrimental
effect on the atmosphere inside these venues.
Then I started to come across the following situations:
· A beer garden (with shelter and some heat) was closed after a certain time and I had to stand out
front on the street;
· I was outside a pub which had a kicking IN time so no late smoke outside.
· Being told I cannot take my drink outside.
· Another place after a certain time asked customers to smoke on the other side of the road!
After being pushed from pillar to post I can no longer muster the enthusiasm to go out to see an unknown
band, knowing the odds of seeing something good are against me, and not even being able to enjoy a
smoke with my now expensive beer.
It really has become such a ridiculous farce for smokers. We were the lifeblood of the Pub. All we ask is for
a beer and a smoke in comfort and we will be back in our thousands all over the country!
As things stand, people would much rather invite friends round for a drink, smoke and listen to music. I
believe this has helped fuel the rise in binge-drinking as optic measures are not used and things can get a
bit out of hand without the guiding hand of an experienced landlord.
My brother lives in Greece and when i visited him it was as if their smoking ban doesn't exist. I went outside
of a bar for a smoke and the owner came out and insisted i came back in and gave me an ashtray! I have
heard similar anecdotes relating to other EU countries.
I believe this ban to be a social experiment that has now proven itself to have gone very badly wrong hence
this campaign which I hope will attract enough support to amend the ban to a more acceptable compromise.
Mark Fuller
I am a keen live music fan and enjoy going to see bands I've never heard of. As anyone of a similar
disposition will tell you, nine out of 10 times the band will usually be pretty poor but on the one in 10 you
get to see something really special and that's where the buzz comes from for live music fans.
My point is I had already started to cut back because of the silly prices of beer after successive tax rises
but my biggest issue now is the difficulties the smoking ban has brought.
At first it was an inconvenience and I continued to support live music. But as time wore on and the weather
deteriorated it started to become a real pain.
It also became very noticeable that the customers were staying away having an extremely detrimental
effect on the atmosphere inside these venues.
Then I started to come across the following situations:
· A beer garden (with shelter and some heat) was closed after a certain time and I had to stand out
front on the street;
· I was outside a pub which had a kicking IN time so no late smoke outside.
· Being told I cannot take my drink outside.
· Another place after a certain time asked customers to smoke on the other side of the road!
After being pushed from pillar to post I can no longer muster the enthusiasm to go out to see an unknown
band, knowing the odds of seeing something good are against me, and not even being able to enjoy a
smoke with my now expensive beer.
It really has become such a ridiculous farce for smokers. We were the lifeblood of the Pub. All we ask is for
a beer and a smoke in comfort and we will be back in our thousands all over the country!
As things stand, people would much rather invite friends round for a drink, smoke and listen to music. I
believe this has helped fuel the rise in binge-drinking as optic measures are not used and things can get a
bit out of hand without the guiding hand of an experienced landlord.
My brother lives in Greece and when i visited him it was as if their smoking ban doesn't exist. I went outside
of a bar for a smoke and the owner came out and insisted i came back in and gave me an ashtray! I have
heard similar anecdotes relating to other EU countries.
I believe this ban to be a social experiment that has now proven itself to have gone very badly wrong hence
this campaign which I hope will attract enough support to amend the ban to a more acceptable compromise.
Mark Fuller
