The forthcoming smoking bans in England and Wales will encourage 840,000 new customers into pubs, according to research from the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra).

The survey of more than 1,500 people, conducted by polling firm TNS to mark Camra’s Community Pubs Week, also shows that 17% of all regular pub-goers will visit bars more frequently once the plan is in place.

A further 69% said the bans, which come into force in April in Wales and June in England, would not stop their pub visits at all.

Camra chief executive Mike Benner said: “This survey shows that non-smokers will be attracted to pubs after the ban comes into force. “It is encouraging that only 3% of people surveyed said they would not visit pubs at all as a result of the ban.”

More than nine in 10 (93%) of real ale drinkers said they will continue to go to the pub regardless of the ban and 68% of smokers said they have no plans to alter their pub visiting habits once the bans are enforced.

Survey in figures

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: 89%
• Soft drink drinkers:88%
• Spirit drinkers: 86%
• Lager drinkers: 84%
• Alcopop drinkers: 81%

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%

Source: Camra/TNS poll of 1,500 UK adults

View more news and analysis on the smoking ban here >>

Camra presents plaques to pubs with a history >>

The Campaign for Real Ale attacks supermarket alcohol pricing >>

By Jessica Harvey

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