Profits burnt

But despite widespread support for bars and pubs stubbing the habit out, a ban introduced in Bournemouth University's student bar has seen its profits fall dramatically just two weeks after it started.

Students on the campus voted in favour of the four-week trial ban at the beginning of term, but the bar's profits have plummeted by around £2,000 a week.

Student union bar manager Richard Gerard said: "Last week, takings of drink were down £1,200, probably equivalent to about two grand a week."

SU vice president for representations, Helen Thornber, said: "At the moment, it's not too severe and is in line with other student unions that have done this.

"But if it continues then we'll probably lose about £10,000 over the year, which is obviously a fair bit of our earnings."

Students are due to take another vote next month to decide if the ban will stay in place.

Last week, pub giant JD Wetherspoon announced plans to outlaw smoking in all its 650 pubs from next year, and other major chains are being urged to follow suit.

But despite possible drops in profits, the pub chain has decided to press ahead and ban smoking two years ahead of proposed government laws.

Announcing his company's ban on smoking, JD Wetherspoon chairman Tim Martin said: "An increasing percentage of the population are giving up smoking and a significant number of people are staying away from pubs and restaurants because they are too smoky."

Locally, the chain runs the Moon In The Square in Bournemouth, the Sir Percy Florence Shelley in Boscombe, Ferndown's Night Jar, and The Quay and Lord Wimborne in Poole.

All five pubs will be smoke-free by May of next year.

Last November, the government announced plans to impose a sweeping ban on smoking in public places to help encourage healthier living, including restrictions on smoking in licensed premises by the end of 2008.

Jon Mckechnie, 20, a third-year geography student who lives in Winton, said: "I am happy to see this ban implemented on the campus-although it affects smokers more. I have noticed the number of students at the bar has dwindled. It obviously affects smokers because they have gone elsewhere but it won't encourage more non-smokers to go to the bar."

Robert Matthews, 20, a third year geography student from Winton, said: "The university is trying to lead the way but I can understand them worrying about profits if they have been affected that much.

"It could lead them to implement some policies which could affect student funding

for clubs and societies or lead to increasing the price of beers."

Leigh Brimicombe, 20, a second year PR student from Wallisdown, said: "I have given up going to the bar since they banned smoking. It doesn't have the same atmosphere any more.

"It's completely dead in there and the ban is extremely antisocial because you can not have a proper conversation if you have to get up and go out for a cigarette."

Emma Broomhall, 20, a second year PR student from Wallisdown, said: "Smoking is an antisocial habit but drinking and smoking go hand in hand so banning it in a bar is counterproductive.

"I gave up smoking two-and-a-half weeks ago but I wouldn't go to a bar in town either if it had banned smoking."

Rosie Major, 18, a sports psychologist and coaching sciences student from Boscombe, said: "I smoke and would still go in there although the windows don't open and it gets too hot in there. Since the ban was enforced, people have been hanging around outside. It's a bit grim from all the cigarette stubs. I know a DJ who performed at the bar recently and it was dead."

Laura Chapman, 19, a first year sports development and coaching sciences student from Bournemouth, said: "I don't smoke so I think it's a lot nicer now. It's a much better atmosphere because there are no smokers in there. I think smokers will eventually come round to going back to the bar. It's just a convenient place for people to go between lectures if they have an hour to spare."

First published: February 2