Latest Headlines RSS Feed


A full house? Not since smoking ban, says Gala

11:34am Sunday 30th March 2008

comment Comments (19)   Have your say »


The number of visitors to a Hounslow bingo hall are down since last year's smoking ban, bingo bosses have said.

Gala Bingo, in Staines Road, attributed losses of 30 per cent to the legislation banning smoking in public places, which came in to effect in July last year.

Surrender Kumar who has worked at the hall for 18 years, said: "The drop in the number of customers has forced us to stop trading on Sunday afternoons.

"It has had a huge effect on takings because Saturday evenings are no longer as busy as before.

"We have set up a shelter outside for smokers and brought in weekend game promotions."

A study, conducted by research organisation Mintel, revealed the bingo trade would continue to suffer a decline.

It estimated that between 2007 and 2008, the trade would decline by 12 per cent to be worth less than £205billion.

The period 2004 to 2005 showed a 24 per cent increase in trade.

Helen Spicer, from Mintel, said: "The smoking ban has meant that many players simply stay away from bingo halls, or if they do go, they head out during the intervals for a quick cigarette.

"As well as the smoking ban, the Gambling Act of 2005 includes licensing changes that have had a drastic effect on the market.

"If the industry doesn't come up with new ideas, British bingo could soon be a thing of the past."

Print article » Email to a friend »

Your Say YourRichmond and Twickenham Times

Jo, Essex says...
2:38pm Sun 30 Mar 08

So, why doesn't the Bingo Industry get together on this and FORCE the Government to overturn this ridiculous smoking ban? More importantly, FORCE them to READ the evidence on this so called SHS - which is the only reason the bigots at ASH were able to influence the Government in the first place! And it's ALL LIES!! There is plenty of evidence of this on the www.freedom2choose.i
nfo. United you will surely stand. Plus you will easily have the smokers and even the non-smokers behind you all the way (but not the MINORITY of ANTI-SMOKERS)! But who needs THEM anyway! Do it NOW before its too late and there will be no bingo halls left at all! The same goes for ALL the PUBS!

Report this post »

DaveA, London says...
5:53pm Sun 30 Mar 08

Well said Jo, and believe you me it is coming to a pub near you too, if not already.

Report this post »

chas, suffolk says...
6:35pm Sun 30 Mar 08

The smoking ban discriminates against the elderly. Many pensioners have few interests except for playing bingo and going to the pub with their mates. Many pensioners have smoked for most of their lives and just can't pack up easily. In America there is a Grandfather Clause, which allows persons to carry on doing things which they have always done before a new law comes in banning that activity, including smoking.

Report this post »

David, Pleasantville, U.K. says...
8:00pm Sun 30 Mar 08

chas, suffolk on 6:35pm today.
So, do they have grandfather clauses in the U.K. If not, what's the relevance of chs.' posting?

Report this post »

mandyv, cambs says...
8:47pm Sun 30 Mar 08

Well said Jo, the smoke-haters are in a minority, that is why so many venues are shutting. They do not care that many elderly people have lost their social lives, when local venues shut down, that affect the tolerant non-smokers and smokers alike. I bet they were not consulted. The fanatical antis and the drug companies appear to be running the Country now. I have no faith in this goverment or the next main 2 parties, they have allowed this spiteful ban in with disregard for the truth.

“Political correctness does not legislate tolerance; it only organizes hatred”
Jacques Barzun

cleanairquality.blog
spot.com/
Air quality testing by Johns Hopkins University, the American Cancer Society, a Minnesota Environmental Health Department, and various researchers whose testing and report was peer reviewed and published in the esteemed British Medical Journal......prove that secondhand smoke is 2.6 - 25,000 times SAFER than occupational (OSHA) workplace regulations:
www.bmj.com/cgi/cont
ent/full/326/7398/10
57
Enstrom/Kabat study
These could do with some support please,
petitions.pm.gov.uk/
smokinglicenses/ ends in October 2008
uk.youtube.com/watch
?v=mN-xDlsNXII Hamish Howitt Publican
www.innthecold.com 1000 Pubs in 90 days, can you help with this one?

Report this post »

Joe, USA, North Carolina says...
3:08am Mon 31 Mar 08

Bingo is lame and dying. Quit your whining you **** who left the last comment.
Consider yourself lucky you have a government who cares about its people health.

Report this post »

andy, twickenham says...
12:43pm Mon 31 Mar 08

People whine on about the rights of smokers. What about us non smokers? I objected to breathing in smoke whilst in a pub or whilst eating out and smelling like an ash tray in the morning. However, providing facilities for smokers to indulge their habit is fine with me. By the way, my friends who DO smoke, also support the smoking ban, even though they get rained on whilst taking a puff. Banning smoking 100% won't work and as an anti smoker, I do NOT support this. We need to compromise between live and let live and the ban everything everywhere brigade

Report this post »

ric, kingston says...
2:49pm Mon 31 Mar 08

i went to bingo in rose hill once. (ex girlfriend dont ask) i actually nearly died in there from smoke inhalation.

it was terrible. never again.

if the bingo trade was up 24% in 2005 and now down 30% in 2008. thats only 6% loss after the ban. not bad.

im sure the people going will increase now you dont need an oxygen mask to play.


Report this post »

Carlos, Putney says...
3:40pm Mon 31 Mar 08

ric maybe its your problem with your lungs so please keep this to yourself! Most people really cant be bothered to hear your stories. Well said most of the posters.

Joe consider yourself lucky to have as state government that cares about personal liberty and property rights as well as the truth. BTW this government doesnt care about health at all it only cares about control- the UK has more CCTVs than any other country.

Report this post »

chas, suffolk says...
7:13pm Mon 31 Mar 08

Carlos. I agree that our lovely Government only cares about control. The majority of this country would also agree that Joe is welcome to our Government over there in the USA.

Report this post »

g songhurst, devon says...
8:38pm Mon 31 Mar 08

WHILST ON MY WAY BACK FROM HOLIDAY I HAD TO CHANGE PLANES IN ANTIGUA.
THERE IN THE AIRPORT LOUNGE YOU MAY SMOKE ON THE HIGHER LEVEL OR IF YOU DONT SMOKE YOU CAN SIT ON THE LOWER LEVEL.
BUT NOBODY SEEMED BOTHERD BY THE SMOKE,A PERSON FROM MY VILLAGE THAT I MET BY CHANCE THERE WAS EATING IN THE SMOKING AREA ALONG WITH OTHER COUPLES THAT WERE SMOKING.
WHY OH WHY DO WE HAVE TO PUT UP WITH THE DICTATORS THAT ARE OUR POLITITIANS....UKIP FOR ME NEXT TIME.IF WE ALL DO THE SAME AT THE NEXT ELECTION THEY MAY HAVE A VERY HARD RETHINK.

Report this post »

Ricky, Sheen says...
9:58am Tue 1 Apr 08

The ban is here to stay. It is spreadingaround the globe too. Stop moaning and get outside.

Report this post »

Donald, says...
1:50am Wed 2 Apr 08

Thou shalt not:

Drink, Think, Smoke, Assemble, Eat, Use Carbon, Have an opinion or Protest.

Thou shalt:

Submit to a National Database, Line up for ID cards, surrender your freedoms to the State.

By Order,

Nu-Labour
Nu-Conservatives
Nu-Lib-dems

Report this post »

ric, kingston says...
8:48am Wed 2 Apr 08

Carlos wrote:
ric maybe its your problem with your lungs so please keep this to yourself! Most people really cant be bothered to hear your stories. Well said most of the posters. Joe consider yourself lucky to have as state government that cares about personal liberty and property rights as well as the truth. BTW this government doesnt care about health at all it only cares about control- the UK has more CCTVs than any other country.
i do smoke.

doesnt mean i like sitting in a room full of it though.

its not about laws or government. its about being a rude bast4rd and blowing your smoke all over people that don't choose to smoke.

your arguing about the government forcing you to do something and how bad that is. yet you want to force people to breathe in smoke they dont want to.

double standards? or are you just like everyone else in this world. looking out for number one?

Report this post »

chas, suffolk says...
11:02am Wed 2 Apr 08

i do smoke.

doesnt mean i like sitting in a room full of it though.

its not about laws or government. its about being a rude bast4rd and blowing your smoke all over people that don't choose to smoke.

your arguing about the government forcing you to do something and how bad that is. yet you want to force people to breathe in smoke they dont want to.

double standards? or are you just like everyone else in this world. looking out for number one?
i went to bingo in rose hill once. (ex girlfriend dont ask) i actually nearly died in there from smoke inhalation.

it was terrible. never again.
And I am a non-smoker?

Report this post »

Dave, Nottingham says...
12:18pm Wed 2 Apr 08

Bingo companies have a high proportion of players that smoke and through the smoking ban have either stopped playing or reduced visits putting pressure on income that is needed to keep bingo clubs operating. There are several issues here with the introduction of the smoking ban. Firstly non smokers have had to put up with passive smoking in clubs for many years and these members will rightly say that it is about time. Equally many potential members who have chest conditions such as asthma may have been put off going to bingo halls in the past. Those who smoke may argue that human rights are being breached, but this arguement could equally be the same for non smokers. The real issue at the moment is that the government has introduced a policy that has had a big effect on the industry and is threatening jobs. They could do something about it!. The bingo industry is currently unfairly taxed and pays 32.5% tax on bingo books and some interval games. This is made up of 17.5% VAT on income generated for the club and then the government have levied a further 15% on profits after VAT. No other form of gaming including Casino's receives such a tax burden. If the government was to abolish VAT which is what the industry has been fighting for, it would help clubs through this difficult period and protect jobs.
Bingo clubs throughout the country bring communities closure. It is a sociable event with many people bringing friend or family along for an afternoon or evening out.
Simply the answer for bingo clubs is for the greedy government to abolish the unfair tax on bingo clubs. Smoking has long been banned in cinemas and on planes, people adjust to this and still go to these venues so the arguement on not smoking in other venues is one of emotion.

Report this post »

Lyn, Worcester says...
3:30pm Wed 2 Apr 08

Dave - Yes smoking has been banned in cinemas for a long time and have not been to the cinema since. Smoking on planes has also been banned, so I just use short haul flights and can cope with that because I am actually going somewhere. What I have a problem with is no longer being allowed to smoke in a designated area in the departure lounge. This can be very distressing, especially if your flight is delayed as you are trapped there! For this I now need to take medication! I know which I believe to be the healthier option and it is not the medication!

Report this post »

Phil Ashworth, Cheadle, Cheshire says...
11:41pm Wed 2 Apr 08

Any government that can take away the right of people to use a legal substance such as tobacco and force people outside to use it yet retaining the right to have its own smoking bars in the House of Westminster is clearly taking the ****.Everyone knows that there is a compromise but no-one seems to have the guts to deal with it as yet!

Report this post »

Swansea Terry, Swansea says...
9:21am Wed 9 Apr 08

ric wrote:
i went to bingo in rose hill once. (ex girlfriend dont ask) i actually nearly died in there from smoke inhalation. it was terrible. never again. if the bingo trade was up 24% in 2005 and now down 30% in 2008. thats only 6% loss after the ban. not bad. im sure the people going will increase now you dont need an oxygen mask to play.
Your IQ needs to be ,at least in double figures ,to quote on such things..In other words,,you are writing a lot of rubbish,,,Give it up Adolf!!

Report this post »

Comments are closed on this article.

In this section

Sponsored Links



Local Links


Local Information

Enter your postcode, town or place name

House prices »   Schools »   Crime »   Hospitals »