Restaurants have become poor because of the ban on Smoking

The income of restaurants, cafes and bars collapsed by 20% after the implementation from 1 June of the ban on Smoking. The specialists expect that the decrease of sales will increase to 30%.

According to reliable information the Federation of restaurateurs and hoteliers of Russia (FRIO), after the introduction of the ban on 1 June on Smoking in restaurants, cafes and bars implementation in the public catering enterprises fell by 15-20%. "At the moment in different companies catering in Moscow regression in the turnover of 15-20%. It's pretty solid. This data cafes, restaurants, bars. The clubs we were not considered", - said the President of FRIO Igor Bukharov.

Most of all, according to him, suffered coffee shops and bars. People addicted to arrive there the main way to eat, and chat over a Cup or a glass, and with all of this the ability to smoke. The decline in sales was predictable. "Our colleagues in Europe declare that during the first year, when it begins to work the ban, reduced extremely seriously. In pubs, for example, it was 30%. Later visitors return, adapted and adjusted to the ban. But by this time the part of the institutions fail," added Bukharov.

According to him, in comparison with Moscow and other European capitals it is necessary to consider, that at us smokers more and catering less, because direct Parallels impossible to undertake, told Izvestia. Moscow restaurant owners approved the falling sales of about 15-20%. But, according to reliable information of experts, it is a temporary phenomenon: at least half of the visitors, boycotting catering, soon there'll come back - work habits to meet with friends not in apartments, and in catering establishments. Professionals report that the strictness of restaurant owners in relation to visitors who wish to smoke, despite the ban, will be depending on the strictness of the law enforcement bodies to the owners of restaurants. In case the fines will be inevitable, the administration of the institutions will not want to look at smokers through his fingers.

Chairman of the Board of the capital branch of "OPORA Russia" Alexander Zharkov believes that the capital catering can lose 20-30% of revenue in consequence of the ban on Smoking. As he noted, during the development of the law was expected to give buyers an adaptation period: not being able to smoke in a room, they had the opportunity to do so on a summer terrace. Specifically, as a result, new rules began to operate in the summer. But in practice almost any adaptation period not. Most of the businessmen, according to Zharkova, not allowing visitors to smoke, even on a summer terrace. For all that the capital and the Federal government still taking a different position. The Moscow Department of trade and services recognizes that Smoking is not allowed there. The Ministry of industry and trade gave the explanation that the anti-Smoking law does not contain provisions that it was not allowed.

"We have addressed to public Prosecutor of Moscow with a wish to understand their own explanations, in order to eliminate the dual interpretation of the law. In addition, we addressed the head of the Moscow Department Rospotrebnadzora Elena Andreeva. It agreed that the management will not perform checks on summer terraces before the Moscow Prosecutor's office will not give his explanation," said Zharkov. In the Epistle to the Prosecutor's office "Support of Russia" reminds that the law prohibits Smoking in buildings of public catering, and the summer terrace are not counted as rooms. In addition, the law prohibits Smoking in non-stationary objects. However, the scope of the Federal law a definition of transient objects, does not apply to firms catering. The Prosecutor's office is obliged to answer before July 10.

sections: Economics