Publican says law forced people to set up illegal bars

Drinkers who smoke are abandoning local pubs in favour of illegal "undergound" garage bars, a hospitality expert says.
Reg Hennessy, president of the Bay of Plenty branch of the Hospitality Association, said bone fide suburban bars in places like Ngongotaha, Westbrook and Mitchell Downs, were feeling the negative impact of a law change which took effect last December. Traditionally patronised by "blue collar" workers who smoked, they are serving fewer patrons since the law changed. Mr Hennessy said many smokers had been driven "underground", choosing to set up illegal garage bars where they could smoke.
"There are so many sad stories out there," he said.
"I'd be really surprised to see some smaller bars get through the winter."
Vic Burt, the owner of VC's Turf Bar in Rotorua, agrees.
His patrons smoke outside on the footpath, which has upset neighbours, including the Lifestyle 2000 fitness centre.
Personal trainer Marlene Bradford said it was common for cigarette smoke from the street to drift up their stairwell.
Mr Burt takes a tough line by banning anyone who repeatedly flouts the law by lighting up inside, knowing that if he doesn't, he could pay a hefty fine.
He knows of several people who, instead of visiting a bar, take turns at hosting garage parties, where alcohol is sold.
"Drinking and smoking is being forced back in to the family home and creating a lot more stress for people."
Larger drinking establishments such as O'Malley's Irish Bar are also feeling the effects of the ban.
For many of the bar's punters, a beer and a fag are like fish and chips - they just go together.
That's why, even though it's winter, O'Malley's regulars huddle together on the decks under the shelter of a canopy and happily puff away on their cigarettes while cradling a pint.
The bar's staunch regulars have reluctantly accepted the law change but owner Terry Meagher is less positive.
The law has hit him in the back pocket, with turnover down at least 20 per cent over the past eight months.
On quiet nights, before the smoking ban came into effect, O'Malley's would stay open until at least 11pm. Now it's common for Mr Meagher and his staff to be out the door by 9pm.
"The guys are going home when it gets really late because it gets too cold outside," he said.
He is confident he can "ride out" the fall in profits but he knows other bar owners won't be as lucky.
Pubs outside the inner city are suffering most from the legislation and Mr Meagher predicts it will force some bars to shut their doors for good.
Rotorua MP Steve Chadwick, whose bill was responsible for changing the law, is shrugging off any criticism about its impact on bar owners.
Bars in other countries, such as Ireland, which had banned smoking indoors, had noticed an immediate downturn in business but that had corrected itself, she said.
"This law was not going to change smoking habits overnight. The law is here to stay ... people will eventually forget about what it was like to smoke inside. They will go back.'