BUSINESSES yesterday reported an alleged 40 per cent drop in revenue following the total smoking ban on January 1.
The reduction came as no surprise to the Association of Bar Owners which said it had predicted its members’ demise and warned of worse to come.
“Nightclubs experienced what we’ve been saying all along,” said Association head Fanos Leventis.
“There was a 40 per cent reduction on Saturday which is a very large number when you take into account the fact that the students [who are studying overseas] haven’t left yet and it’s also the holiday season. This is the first message of what will follow.”
Leventis said the drop in numbers had nothing to do with the current financial crisis as the comparisons had included other recent Saturdays.
“We’ll wait to see what will happen in the next few days,” he said.
Police said a total 648 inspections had been carried out islandwide starting 7am on January 2 to 7am yesterday. Proprietors and smokers were given a one-day grace period on January 1.
“A total 83 people were reported including 49 smokers and 34 proprietors,” said a police spokesman.
The least law abiding smokers and club owners were reported in Limassol while Morphou trumped all six districts with zero violations.
Breaking down the statistics the officer said a total 59 inspections had been carried out in Nicosia with a reported three violations, including two smokers and one proprietor; 129 inspections were carried out in Limassol with 76 violations including 46 smokers and 30 proprietors; Larnaca had 122 inspections with two violations including one smoker and one proprietor; Paphos had 56 inspections with one violation made by a proprietor; there were 132 inspections in the Famagusta district with one violation made by a proprietor; and finally in Morphou 150 inspections were carried out with zero violations reported.
Police spokesman Michalis Katsounotos said police were encouraged by the compliance shown by the public.
“We didn’t expect such respect for the new law and we welcome it… The police force is confident Cypriots can easily change mentality,” he said.
Katsounotos also denied criticisms that a blind eye was being turned regarding certain districts and clubs.
“All one has to do is go for a walk and you can easily witness that there is full compliance with the law,” he said.
But Leventis said a number of spots would stay under the radar simply because they were less in the public eye.
“It is practically impossible to check all places that are banned from smoking. It would take thousands of people to keep checks on them. The more popular spots will pay the price as they act as window dressing for the public and everyone will think the law is being implemented,” he said.
Leventis also said the face of entertainment as we knew it would permanently change in Cyprus.
“Imagine a place filled with 200 people and suddenly amidst the fun and good atmosphere every 10 minutes it empties out as 100 to 150 people go out to smoke,” he said.
The bar owner predicted people would no longer choose to go out in Cyprus and would instead save up and go abroad where they could have a good time “wholeheartedly and get what they want”. Foreigners would also stay away from the island for the same reason, he said. “And our industry will wither,” he warned.
