Promoters of the ban on smoking in pubs and restaurants are using "misinformation" to support their case, a lobby group opposing the measure has claimed.
The accusation was levelled at the Government-funded Office of Tobacco Control, which last week quoted US research showing that a similar ban in New York did not adversely affect business there.
The Irish Hospitality Industry Alliance said the findings relied on by the OTC - from a study by Cornell University - related only to hotels and restaurants and not to bars. IHIA spokesman, Mr Finbar Murphy, said that the Cornell study reflected the fact there was no blanket ban on smoking in New York, such as the one proposed here. Thus it included both premises that were completely smoke-free and ones where smoking was allowed because there were ventilation systems.
"Inferring no negative impact for bars when the study did not cover this and comparing one situation with a different one in another country and another culture is not a good basis for public servants to sell their policy proposals, Mr Murphy said.
"It is at best disingenuous and the claims should be withdrawn."
