ALI T wrote:
im sure its a combination of all those factors but having spent many years working in pubs.
i can assure you its bums on the seats that make money and most of the real drinkers smoked.
the pubs remained open in the 80's during hard times, in fact they were probably busier than the 90's 00's.
and breweries make most of their money from the exorbitant rents they charge on their buildings.
as for the supermarkets well they sell alcohol as a loss leader, so they can get punters in in the hope they buy other stuff.
and it works i wouldn't be surprised if the supermarkets were behind the smoking ban

The breweries and tobacco companies realised. They could sell more drink and cigarettes through the big supermarket chains, without the added expense of operating public houses. Home cinema and the internet meant you no longer had to go out to enjoy yourself. Oh, and I read somewhere that people smoke and drink more in the house than going to the pub. It's a win, win situation for the drink and tobacco manufacturers. Now the drinks companies target kids with alcopops lining up their new addicts for the supermarkets.
It's a great game, especially if your man in government controls the action.
