Labour lies exposed. Smoking ban hits pub sales.

The puritanical fascists of New Liebour claim that it is good for us, that nanny state knows best and that it will not affect sales.

Labour lie yet again:

One in five people visit pubs less frequently than they thought they would due to the smoking ban.

And two out of three consumers normally drink at home rather than in pubs.

Those are the down-beat findings of a new survey of 987 adults across the country by business advisory firm Deloitte.

The survey shows the growing importance of price over branding when consumers buy drinks.

In the off-trade, 63% of consumers said price is the most important factor when buying alcohol – up from 51% in a similar survey last year.

Only 36% of drinkers say the brand of beer is more important than cost, compared with 57% last year.

Deloitte director Tim Wilson pointed to tough times ahead for pubs and brewers.

“The beer market is declining in the UK, especially in the on-trade, but input costs are increasing sharply.

“With none of the Home Nations qualifying for Euro 2008, they will also have to cope without one of the major summer high points for the industry.”

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