Experimentation (months 1-3)

In this initial period there is considerable disruption to existing habits, with the government keen to maximise the effectiveness of the new rules.

Enforcement: initially softly-softly, informing business operators rather than threatening them. There is a lot of concentration on signage in the licensed trade (much less elsewhere). Few difficulties are experienced with consumers flouting the rules as the public is generally self-policing.

Drinker/diner behaviour: Extensive experimentation. There is a considerable amount of trialling of what were previously the smokier pubs and clubs by non-smokers. Most, however, find that it was not the smoke that put them off. Those sorts of outlets just do not ‘work’ for them.

Business impacts: Smoking regulars find their routine severely disrupted as they are forced to smoke outside. Many vow never to visit the pub again or try different pubs’ smoking facilities until they find one that they really like. Others reduce the amount of time that they spend at the pub. Traditional smoker-friendly community pubs immediately suffer from regulars staying away or cutting down on the time that they spend in the pubs. ‘Landlocked’ pubs lose out heavily. Other pubs enjoy visits from visitors from other outlets and from people who rarely visit them. Pubs with well-equipped outdoor areas retain a proportion of this trade. Overall trade drops 6-8%.

Health impacts: high media coverage and the smoking bans cause many smokers, especially pub smokers, to try giving up smoking, or to cut down.