Pubs and karaoke bars will lose half their patronage if they are forced to ban smoking, a survey by a trade group has found. The poll, commissioned by the Hong Kong Bars and Karaoke Rights Advocacy, showed that only 8 per cent of customers said they would visit pubs and karaoke bars more often if smoking was banned.
The survey of 1,003 customers and 141 workers was carried out at 54 venues in Causeway Bay and Wan Chai between August 1 and 14 last year.
Fifteen per cent of customers said that, instead, they would visit the pubs and karaoke bars across the border more often if a proposed ban was adopted.
The survey also indicated that a ban would not significantly cut down the number of smokers: 88 per cent of customers said a ban would not make them quit, and 28 per cent said they would choose to smoke at home.
Eric Wong Wai-kuen, vice-chairman of the group, said a proposed ban, on which the Legislative Council is expected to vote later this year, would be impractical - 87 per cent of surveyed workers said they would hesitate to enforce the ban for fear of offending customers.
'The policy is not practical as the survey showed that 69 per cent of our customers are smokers and they come to relax after work, [which includes] drinking, singing and smoking,' Mr Wong said.
