Smokefree night lifts bar takings

By REBECCA WALSH

Going smokefree one night a week has increased the takings at an Auckland bar and restaurant 15 per cent.

The Loaded Hog at the Viaduct Harbour introduced smokefree Tuesdays at the beginning of September, in conjunction with a fun run the business has held for nearly 10 years.

Group outlet manager Mike Gill said many of the runners preferred a smokefree environment and the move was a good way to see what the effects of the new smokefree legislation would be on business.

The Smokefree Environments Amendment Bill, which will ban smoking in pubs, clubs, restaurants and casinos, will be debated by MPs again on Wednesday next week.

Mr Gill said there had been no complaints and although he had been concerned patrons might choose to go to another bar on the waterfront, that had not happened. More family groups were also choosing to come on Tuesdays.

Takings on Tuesday nights were up by about 15 per cent compared with previous Tuesdays since the America's Cup. He attributed that to the smokefree environment.

He would not be drawn on whether he supported the legislation but said "it's added a positive side to our Tuesday nights".

Mr Gill expected problems policing the new legislation and said thought needed to go into offering bars and restaurants an interim period to reassess how they would operate.

The Auckland Cancer Society manager of health promotion, Wendy Fulton, said it showed that going smokefree did not mean businesses would lose revenue.

"There are people going there who wouldn't normally go to a bar or restaurant on Tuesday evening but are now that it's smokefree."