The Pub Experience

Posted by Joseph Allen McCullough Nov 14, 2007

In July of 2007 new legislation made it illegal in England and Wales to smoke in the workplace. Scotland had adopted a similar law the year before. This new law was made a mandatory for all European Union countries. Although most offices were probably already smoke free by this point, the law did have a profound impact on some work sectors. Most notably, it became illegal to smoke in any restaurant or pub. In theory, the law is designed to help protect the employees from the second hand smoke of the patrons. In point of fact, it probably did more to protect the non-smoking patrons from the smokers.

As England approached the deadline to enact the law, there was a major outcry that it would be the death of the English pub, which had served as a safe refuge for smokers for years. Many pub owners vowed to defy the law. Well, July 2007 has come and gone. If anyone defied the law, they seem to have done so quietly enough that no one has noticed. Many pubs have constructed new outside gazeboes where people can go if the need a cigarette.

In truth, the new law seems to have had little impact on the business of pubs. I don’t believe the law has caused too many people to quit going to pubs, in fact, I wonder if many people who didn’t smoke are now more inclined.

I believe that one of the most famous beer drinkers of all time, Norm from Cheers, put it correctly when he said, “Is it going to change the price of beer? No. Then what do we care?”