In the crazy world of business even old smoke hating, ex-puffer ‘Bannatyne the Bansturbator’ has finally realised the folly of smoking bans as he urges the government to reduce “the overwhelming amounts of regulation and bureaucracy that blight today’s businesses, and the failure of banks to provide loans to those looking to start new firms.”
Now it is easy to see his dilemma as the rules that need relaxing relate to the hospitality sector-and HE knows it! Just think about it and you’ll see that our entrepreneur (currently worth approx £320m) knows what makes pubs & clubs tick-yes, got it in one hit…CUSTOMERS!
Obviously, he has now realised that smokers/smoking was the lifeline pubs never knew they had-sorry, I’ll rephrase that-was the lifeline greedy pub-co’s never knew they had! With 9,000+ closures approaching the 4th anniversary of the ban it is not surprising that this hard headed haggiswaffler has finally realised the problem. I notice he hasn’t bought any pubs since July 1st 2007 (?) perhaps he saw what was happening in his homeland during their first year eh!
For a man that has spouted so vociferously about smoking, he looks pretty glum at the realisation that smokers ARE the only answer to saving our already decimated hospitality industry.
You see, our multi-millionaire also declares that “The myriad of poorly thought out, badly written and obstructive regulations and laws that govern those who try to start a business, can hold otherwise sound businesses back.” How absolutely true Duncan-and you have the smoking ban laws as the prime example!
Alexandr says Simples…eh Dunc!
I suggest that you cheer up, buy a few pubs, lobby Parliament for smokers/non-smokers choice and make yourself another small fortune, but this time don’t cut your kids out of your will just because they sneak the odd half a lager now and again, there’s a good chap!
Cheer up Duncan, you’ll get used to the idea!
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